Prediction: Leeds United vs Liverpool

Arne Slot’s side salvaged a point in a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Wednesday, while Leeds shocked Chelsea with a 3-1 triumph on home soil.

Leeds

Leeds have not matched Sunderland’s explosive return to the top flight, but Daniel Farke borrowed a page from Le Bris’s playbook when Chelsea came calling in midweek. For the second time this season, the Club World Cup holders fell to a promoted side, as Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin inspired a stunning victory.

Farke’s men had hinted at a revival during their spirited second-half display at Manchester City, and the former Norwich boss deployed that same 3-5-2 system from the outset against Chelsea—with devastating results. The win ended a four-game losing streak and lifted Leeds out of the relegation zone into 17th, though West Ham could send them back down by beating Manchester United on Thursday.

Leeds famously stunned Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in October 2022, but the Reds exacted revenge with a 6-1 demolition at Elland Road in April 2023. Liverpool have not lost on this ground for 25 years.

Team News

Celebration quickly turned to concern as Calvert-Lewin (calf) and Lukas Nmecha (hamstring) are major doubts for Saturday. Joel Piroe and Noah Okafor may step in up front, while Tanaka’s quick turnaround remains uncertain.

James Justin—benched midweek after a knock—pushes for a recall, but Jayden Bogle and Gabriel Gudmundsson should keep their places. Daniel James (hamstring) and Sean Longstaff (calf) remain sidelined.

Liverpool

It took 14 gameweeks for Liverpool to register their first draw of the season, and without a heroic late block from Federico Chiesa, they might have been lamenting a seventh league defeat. Deflected efforts from Chemsdine Talbi and Florian Wirtz—credited as a Nordi Mukiele own goal—secured a share of the spoils, but Sunderland nearly snatched victory through Wilson Isidor.

Neither Arsenal nor Chelsea have beaten Sunderland this term, so a midweek point is hardly disastrous, though speculation over Slot’s future persists. The club reportedly has no plans to dismiss him, and Liverpool remain in the top half, albeit 11 points adrift of leaders Arsenal.

Avoiding defeat at Elland Road would mark their first three-game unbeaten run since September and provide a morale boost before a daunting Champions League clash with Inter Milan.

Team News

Slot hoped Conor Bradley would recover from a muscular issue in time for Leeds, but Jeremie Frimpong (thigh) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) are ruled out. Bradley’s return would be timely, as Joe Gomez is unlikely to start for a third time in a week.

Curtis Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai could fill in at right-back, though Szoboszlai may be rested, paving the way for Mohamed Salah’s return to the attack. Chiesa, after his midweek heroics, is pushing for a rare start.

Conclusion

Liverpool could hardly have complained had Sunderland snatched victory, and predicting which version of the Reds will turn up remains a gamble.

Leeds, buoyed by their new system and midweek heroics, have every chance of earning a point, though defensive frailties may prevent them from claiming all three.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 14/5

Bookmaker: Luckster