Liverpool are eyeing their ninth straight win in all competitions as they take on Leeds United on Wednesday evening.
Liverpool’s form since the turn of the year has seen them emerge as a potential rival to Manchester City in the race for the Premier League. With a run of eight successive wins in all competitions, the Merseyside giants are currently trailing the league leaders by six points with a game in hand.
Liverpool’s most recent victory saw them brush aside Norwich City 3-1, though it was quite a tricky battle that forced Jurgen Klopp to make slight adjustments to his tactics and formation. The German mastermind also hailed the performance of new signing Luis Diaz after the game, and he will be hoping the Colombian can once again bring out the attacking flair when the Reds meet Leeds United on Wednesday.
While Liverpool are fighting for the league title, Leeds United are experiencing a tumultuous campaign, with the club seemingly getting pulled into the relegation battle. With three losses and a draw in the last four league matches, the Whites are currently in 15th position, just five points clear of the drop zone.
Leeds’ season so far has been marred by injuries to key players such as Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford and Liam Cooper. They are also bracing themselves for life without Marcelo Bielsa next season, with Jesse Marsch reportedly emerging as a potential replacement.
However, hiring the American mastermind may require Premier League status, so it will be imperative for the Yorkshire outfit to secure at least a point against Liverpool. The Whites had succumbed to a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture, but coach Bielsa will be urging his troops to put up a tougher fight at Anfield this midweek.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed the absence of both his premier strikers in Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino heading into this affair. However, the Liverpool manager could make several changes from the side that faced Norwich City on the weekend.
We’re LIVE with Jürgen Klopp ahead of Wednesday’s match against Leeds United! ? #LIVLEE https://t.co/5KR6mAtQ1j
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 22, 2022
One of the most notable changes should see the two first-choice full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson return to the starting eleven after being given a rest. Both are expected to occupy their respective positions at the expense of Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas, thus strengthening the team’s ability to provide width in the final third.
Given Leeds United’s strength going forward though, the full-backs should be wary of their opponents’ attacking runs. The central defensive duo of Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk should play an even more important role in this regard as they look to provide cover to Alisson Becker in goal.
Moving into midfield, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara were the two players given breathers against Norwich City. It is likely both will return to the starting eleven, prompting Jordan Henderson to shift into an advanced midfield role, with Fabinho operating as the main number six.
Although the absence of Kalvin Phillips in the Leeds United setup makes things considerably easier, it is essential that the Liverpool midfielders retain control in midfield and offer seamless transition in the attack, led by new signing Luis Diaz.
The Colombian netted his maiden Premier League goal against Norwich City and will be hoping for a similar performance against Leeds United, as he forms Liverpool’s attacking trio alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. With Firmino and Jota missing, Klopp only has Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino as potential alternatives, although the German can also call upon the highly talented Harvey Elliott.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Diaz, Mane
Leeds United
Marcelo Bielsa was rather secretive when asked about any team updates in the pre-match press conference. But the Leeds United boss did offer an update regarding Robin Koch’s head injury, suggesting he is “perfect” but is set to undergo a six-day recovery protocol, ruling him out of the contest. Koch joins Liam Cooper, Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips in Leeds United’s list of absentees heading into this game.
? ??????? ?? ?????????: “They are one of the great teams in the league. Like every game, we will try to prevent their attacks from damaging us and make our attacks damage them.“ pic.twitter.com/alxI3eotLF
— Leeds United (@LUFC) February 22, 2022
Tactically, the German’s absence could be a major blow as Leeds United lack the services of any other reliable holding midfielder. It could ultimately force Bielsa to revert to a 4-2-3-1 setup with Mateusz Klich and Adam Forshaw operating in the double-pivot.
Although Pascal Striujk can also play as a number six, the Dutchman’s contributions could be more crucial in central defence in the absence of Cooper and Koch. He is set to accompany Diego Llorente at the heart of the four-man Leeds backline, with Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas serving as full-backs.
Junior Firpo is an alternative for Dallas at left-back, but the former Barcelona man may be utilised as a super-sub late on in the proceedings, with Dallas likely to be moved into a central role. As for the offensive department, Raphinha is gunning for a return on the right wing. The Brazilian’s dynamism on the flanks could cause problems for Robertson on the far side.
Jack Harrison will also be aiming for a similar impact on the opposite flank, as the two wide attackers look to form Leeds’ creative trio alongside the number ten in Rodrigo Moreno. The onus will be on Daniel James to spearhead the frontline.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Dallas; Klich, Forshaw; Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison; James
Key Stats
- Liverpool have won their last three Premier League home games against Leeds, netting ten goals in the process. They last won more games consecutively against them at Anfield in the league between 1973 and 1978.
- Leeds United have lost both Premier League meetings with Liverpool in a season on four previous occasions (1996/97, 1997/98, 1999/00 and 2002/03). Only in 1996/97 did the Whites fail to score in either meeting with the Reds.
- Liverpool have only failed to score in one of their last 23 meetings with Leeds in all competitions, netting in each of their last 16 in a row since a goalless draw in April 1999.
- Liverpool will face Leeds United on a Wednesday for the first since February 1997, when they had won 4-0 in the Premier League and were 3-0 ahead at half-time. They have won their last five against the Whites in games played on Wednesdays by an aggregate score of 13-0 since Leeds United won 2-0 in an FA Cup fourth-round replay in February 1972, with Allan Clarke scoring a brace at Elland Road.
- Liverpool are the only side unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season (W9 D3) and have conceded a league-low seven goals at Anfield so far this term.
Player to Watch
Luis Diaz
34 – Luis Díaz's goal for Liverpool today was scored following a sequence of 34 uninterrupted passes, the most for any Premier League goal this season and the most by any Liverpool goal since Opta have this data available in the competition (from 2006-07). Crafted. pic.twitter.com/JVfUnvkph9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 19, 2022
Luis Diaz’s superb display against Norwich City on the weekend has put him in focus in the English media. A €45 million January arrival from FC Porto, the Colombian has enjoyed a promising start to his life at Liverpool, with many expecting him to become a great success at Anfield in the years to come.
As for the Leeds United game, the absence of Jota and Firmino could make Diaz a vital piece of the Liverpool puzzle going forward. His trickery and tactical flexibility have already made him a useful attacking outlet for Klopp, who notably shifted into a 4-4-2 against Norwich, with the Colombian and Divock Origi spearheading the attack.
While Klopp is likely to revert to a more familiar 4-3-3, Diaz’s presence in the final third does make Liverpool much more flexible in the final third. Whether or not that flexibility translates into goals and assists this midweek remains to be seen.
Prediction
Liverpool 3-1 Leeds United
Liverpool have been one of the strongest home teams in Europe this season. They are yet to lose a single game at Anfield, and it is hard to imagine that record being broken by a Leeds United side reeling from recent losses to Manchester United and Everton. The ongoing injury problems don’t help their cause either.
As such, it would not be surprising to see the Reds dominating this affair, with Diaz in particular likely to assert his dominance against a Leeds United setup that has lost yet another key defender in the form of Koch. Simply put, this game promises goals, and we can expect an entertaining affair with the Reds likely to continue their electric form.
