Liverpool can make it back-to-back Premier League wins on the road for only the second time this season at Leeds, though the promoted side are not to be underestimated.
Leeds vs. Liverpool
Premier League (15) | Elland Road
December 6, 5.30pm (GMT)
Liverpool salvaged a point from their last outing after, again, conceding first, and now face another newly-promoted side who are experiencing an upturn in form.
Arne Slot remains under pressure and all eyes will be on how his side show up at Elland Road, a ground that will not roll out the red carpet for the champions.
1. Conor Bradley back in Liverpool squad
After four games out with an injury, Bradley will return to the matchday squad for this fixture and it could prompt a change at right-back after two consecutive starts for Joe Gomez.
The England international has nursed a knock since the trip to West Ham and with Bradley having returned to training at the start of the week, the hope will be that he is ready to start.
“I think he (Gomez) will be able to train again today,” Slot told reporters. “Yesterday (Thursday) was a recovery day for most of them, today we will train again and let’s see where they are.
“But Conor Bradley has trained this week, so I expect him to train today and then he is available to be in the squad tomorrow.”
Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni, Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic all remain sidelined.
2. Leeds have found form
Daniel Farke has been under pressure but a change to a 3-5-2 system against Man City has offered new life, narrowly losing at the Etihad before a 3-1 win over Chelsea.
The change in system has given Leeds more licence to press higher, create width and a physical battle for the opposition’s central defenders, all the while creating a direct approach.
All of which Liverpool have dealt well with of late…
The hosts will be full of confidence after their midweek result, though fitness concerns could force Farke into a change of personnel.
3. Leeds’ strike partnership in doubt
Dominic Calvert-Lewis and Lukas Nmecha proved a handful for City and then Chelsea, but both could miss Liverpool’s visit with respective fitness concerns.
“Lukas Nmecha with hamstring problems after the last game, we will have to assess him to see if he is available,” Farke told reporters on Thursday.
“Dominic Calvert-Lewin with some calf problems after the last game, also a question mark behind his availability.”
It would be a boost for Liverpool if neither could start, with Joel Piroe the likely inclusion if a change is needed up top for Leeds.
Daniel James and Sean Longstaff, meanwhile, are both unavailable.
Possible Leeds XI: Perri; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Stach, Gruev, Ampadu, Gudmundsson; Piroe, Okafor
4. Predicted Liverpool lineup
There could be up to five changes for Liverpool with tweaks across every department.
Bradley, if fit to start, ought to come straight in while Milos Kerkez could be in line to return in place of Andy Robertson.
With Florian Wirtz possibly dropping to the bench after starting twice in four days, Curtis Jones could come into the midfield with Dominik Szoboszlai then taking up the No. 10 role.
Hugo Ekitike will also likely be considered to come into the side after Alexander Isak managed just 14 touches against Sunderland in what was his second successive start.
Predicted LFC XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike
5. Don’t count on Federico Chiesa starting
If you were hoping Federico Chiesa may finally be in contention to start, you will have to think again if Slot’s answer to a question on the Italian is anything to go by:
““Every player has a possibility to start. But we have many options to start in his position as I said so many times before.
“But he is indeed having his impact coming off the bench a few times.
“Normally you bring a striker in to score a goal, but he in this situation kept on running in a moment where a player could also feel ‘hmm, I don’t think I can do a lot anymore, because he’s going to go one vs. one’.
“So it tells you also the mentality he has not to concede, and that’s a good thing because that’s what not only defenders should have, that’s also what attackers should have.”
6. 2 players at risk of Premier League suspension
If either Bradley or Szoboszlai are shown a yellow card at Elland Road, they will miss the visit of Brighton on December 13.
Both are currently on four yellow cards and one more before and including the 19th game of the season (against Leeds on January 1) will trigger a one-match ban.
Keep off the referee’s radar!
7. Back-to-back away wins on the line
Liverpool’s victory at West Ham means they could record successive away league victories for the first time since mid-September.
On that occasion, they beat newly-promoted Burnley with a very late Mohamed Salah penalty to back up the 3-2 win at Newcastle.
In the league this season, the Reds have, in total, lost four and won three on the road – in that time, they have scored 10 and conceded 12.
8. Time for your Leeds vs. Liverpool score prediction!
If you want some history before you lock in your prediction, Liverpool have only lost one of the last 12 league meetings (eight wins, three draws) and one in the last 14 in all competitions.
There’s almost a guarantee of a goal as the Reds have scored in 22 of the last 23 league meetings, and Salah has nine goals against the Yorkshire side.
As for the chances of a clean sheet, Liverpool have kept nine clean sheets in the last 14 visits to Elland Road in league and cup.
9. Referee: Anthony Taylor
Anthony Taylor is the referee for this fixture. He has taken charge of the two teams once before, a 1-1 draw at Leeds back in April 2021.
This will be his third game overseeing Liverpool this season following on from the win against Bournemouth and the defeat at Chelsea.
Gary Beswick and Adam Nunn are Taylor’s assistants at Elland Road, with Leigh Doughty acting as the fourth official. As for VAR, John Brooks is overseeing from Stockley Park with Dan Robathan alongside.
10. How to follow and watch Leeds vs. Liverpool
Leeds vs. Liverpool will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League for those of you in the UK, with coverage starting at 5pm (GMT).
As always, This Is Anfield’s liveblog will also be up and running to keep you informed and entertained from 4.45pm, with Henry Jackson on hand with some biased commentary.
Liverpool, please win.