Both Liverpool and Leeds United are searching for crucial three points to recover their poor season when they meet at Anfield this weekend.
The Reds suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to bottom-placed Nottingham Forest in the Premier League but claimed a 3-0 win against Ajax in the Champions League whereas Leeds went down 3-2 to Fulham for a fourth straight loss this month.
LIV vs LUFC Match Details
Date: Saturday, 29 October 2022 / Sunday, 30 October 2022
Time: 19:45 (BST) / 00:15 (IST)
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
LIV vs LUFC Match Preview
The 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest at City Ground was another painful one to take for Liverpool still searching for that away win in the Premier League and only 16 points gathered from 11 games for Jurgen Klopp’s men keep them a distance from the top four places. It is the situation nobody predicted three months into the campaign for the team that lost out on the league title for merely a point in May this year, almost doing the quadruple too. Again, the Champions League game in midweek came to their savior as the Reds downed Ajax 3-0 at Amsterdam to guarantee their spot in the round of 16. Sustaining some early pressure from the home side, Liverpool took advantage of some tawdry defending to strike through Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliot to achieve their goal in the evening. With objectives in Europe now met, the Reds will hope to turn things around domestically and at least be in a positive position on the table before the World Cup break in three weeks. Another relief for Jurgen Klopp has been their home form where they put out decent performances and haven’t lost a game. Wins over sides like Newcastle, Manchester City and West Ham should give them a boost before facing Leeds who are troubled by their own poor run of games. Liverpool have also enjoyed great success in this fixture winning 6-0 and 4-3 at Anfield since the West Yorkshire club got promoted back to the Premier League. In total, the Reds are unbeaten in the last 10 meetings in this competition since a 2-1 defeat at this ground 22 years ago. Klopp’s men have not tasted defeat in the last 29 Premier League games at Anfield which is a big boost for them knowing three league games before the World Cup are at home with another struggling side in Southampton to visit them next. In between, the Reds have to lock horns against Napoli in the last group stage game of the Champions League with a difficult trip to London to face Tottenham next weekend and an EFL Cup tie against Derby coming month. A win on Saturday will close down their gap to the top four to two points.
Leeds are currently in their worst run of form in their Premier League history with the entertaining but cruel 3-2 loss to Jesse Marsch’s side against Fulham plunging them more to the relegation zone. Standing at 18th on the table two points from safety, Leeds have not won a Premier League game since their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea in late August following it with two draws and six losses, including in the last four games. Marsch knew it will be tough to face Marco Silva’s seventh-placed Fulham at Elland Road but a 20th-minute strike from Rodrigo lifted hopes although Aleksander Mitrovic’s equalizer five minutes after did not let it soar and the Cottagers went on to score two more in the second half for the victory even though Summerville halved the deficit later on in the game. It was the same pattern of Leeds United not being clinical enough with their chances and making silly errors to concede goals. The problem only brews from here for Leeds as they have to face top-half sides like Liverpool and Tottenham in addition to facing Bournemouth heading into the World Cup break and both being away from home. No wins away from home till now is not a record they would have wished to take to Anfield for their next game. If anything, Liverpool have not failed to score at home this season with 17 strikes in total and only five conceded. In contrast, Leeds have managed to score five but conceded 12 on the travel carrying the joint-worst away form in the division. Only Wolves carry a similar record than them even Nottingham Forest and Leicester City have a better say in the metrics. A lot of things have to fall into the place for the visitors if they are willing to take advantage of the Red’s timid form which is a big ask.
Recent Form (all competitions)
LIV: WLWWW
Recent Form (league)
LIV: LWWLD
LUFC: LLLLD
LIV vs LUFC Team News
Jurgen Klopp confirmed Thiago Alcantara is available to face Leeds after suffering an ear infection that kept him out for the last couple of games. Jordan Henderson is expected to be in contention for the weekend even though he sustained a knock in the midweek game against Ajax to be replaced by James Milner. The fixture come soon for Joel Matip and Naby Keita while Arthur Melo has a long term injury and is not returning back till the new year. Ibrahima Konate only made it to the bench in the trip to Amsterdam but is fully fit to contribute for this game. Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are out for two months. The Reds have used several formations to battle out their inconsistency this season although a repeat of the 4-3-2-1 from their Champions League victory should persist here.
Leeds United have many injury doubts before they can make the trip to Anfield. Tyler Adams, Rodrigo, Luis Sinisterra, Archie Gray, Leo Hjelde, Liam Cooper and Joe Gelhardt all require a late fitness test for their availability. Adam Forshaw is weeks away from recovering from his ankle injury while Stuart Dallas is out until January with a broken leg. Mateusz Klich, Crysencio Summerville and Patrick Bamford could come into the starting eleven instead as a result of these injury issues.
LIV vs LUFC Predicted Lineups
LIV: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Thiago; Firmino; Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez
LUFC: Illan Meslier; Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch, Marcos Llorente, Pascal Struijk; Mateusz Klich, Marc Roca; Jack Harrison, Brenden Aaronson, Crysencio Summerville; Patrick Bamford
LIV vs LUFC Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Alisson (8)
DEF: Trent (8), Koch (7), Van Dijk (8.5), Struijk (8.5)
MID: Aaronson (8.5), Thiago (7.5), Harrison (7.5)
FW: Salah (9), Firmino (8.5), Nunez (8.5)
Vice-captain: Darwin Nunez
Captain: Mohamed Salah
