Liverpool will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome Leeds to Anfield for Premier League matchday 19 on Boxing Day with kickoff at 15:30.
Liverpool were on a winning spree on the bounce bagging six consecutive wins in the Premier League since losing out 3-2 to West Ham United back in November. However, they were forced to drop points on their visit to Tottenham, Hotspur Stadium last weekend. Harry Kane opened the scoring with ojnl6y 13 minutes played but Diogo Jota levelled thing ups in the 35th minute ending the first half with a 1-1. Andy Robertson gave Liverpool the lead for the first time in the match in the 69th minute but six mins later Hueng Min Son drew Spurs level before Andy was sent out three minutes later forcing the Reds to fight for a point with 10 men.
As result Jurgen Klopp’s side now trail Premier League leaders Manchester City by three points ahead of a frantic period involving three matches in just six days.
Liverpool were also forced to go all the way into penalty shootout when they faced Leicester City in the quarter final of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. Leicester appeared to have won the match in the first half as they were leading with a 3-1 at the break, but they learnt why you should never write Liverpool off as Diogo Jota made it 3-2 in the 68th minute before Takumi Minamino leveled things up right on the 90 minute mark forcing the game to end in penalties where the Reds won 5-4.
With the draw at Tottenham and a horrible first half on Wednesday Jurgen Klopp will demand a response from his side this weekend and a fixture against Leeds may just be what they need to get back on track.
Meanwhile Leeds United has huge problems with the sidelined players. Marcelo Bielsa’s side has been depleted with injuries and Covid-129 related issues and that’s why they are going through a horrendous spell that has seen them lose all their last three matches. To be fair though, the Peacocks faced all top four sides in the run losing first to Chelsea then followed the demolition at the hands of Manchester City before Arsenal crashed them at home.
To make the matters worse Leeds now face the league’s best attacking line when they visit Liverpool who have scored 50 goals in 18 league matches so far in this season and therefore, Leeds’ main task on the day will try6 to keep the score line as low as possible.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men sit just five points above the 18th-placed Burnley who occupy the last relegation spot in the standings but have three matches in hand therefore they need points but considering everything a point for Leeds will be a Christmas miracle.
Liverpool vs Leeds head to head
Both sides have met in 27 encounters since 1993 with Liverpool claiming 17 victories while Leeds have claimed six and there have been four draws.
- Leeds 0-3 Liverpool 12/09/21
- Leeds 1-1 Liverpool 19/04/21
- Liverpool 4-3 Leeds 12/09/20
- Liverpool 2-0 Leeds 29/11/16
- Leeds 0-1 Liverpool 22/09/09
Home
- Liverpool 5-4 Leicester (AP)
- Tottenham 2-2 Liverpool
- Liverpool 3-1 Newcastle
- Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa
- Milan 1-2 Liverpool
Away
- Leeds 1-4 Arsenal
- Man City 7-0 Leeds
- Chelsea 3-2 Leeds
- Leeds 2-2 Brentford
- Leeds 1-0 Crystal Palace
Liverpool team news
Liverpool will be without Harvey Elliot, Curtis Jones, Nathaniel Phillips, Divock Origi and Adrian through injuries while Virgil Van Dijk and Fabinho will out due to testing positive for Covid-19 and Andy Robertson will be out due to suspension.
Leeds team news
Leeds will be without several key-players including, Pascal Struijk, Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo Moreno, Daniel James and Jamie Shackleton. Junior Firpo will also miss out due to accumulation of yellow cards.
Prediction and odds
- Liverpool
- Both teams to score (no)
- Goals over 2.5
