THE DETAILS
Venue – Elland Road, Leeds
Referee – Anthony Taylor
Date & Time – Monday, April 19th @ 20:00
Current Odds – Leeds 7/2, Draw 10/3, Liverpool 4/6
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And then there was one… all focus must now turn to Liverpool’s domestic duties over the next five weeks. A top-four finish is certainly doable but you would have to say Liverpool are up against it, three points behind with seven games to play.
Let it begin…
FORM
Leeds Form
Leeds have won their last three games – the most recent of which was the excellent 2-1 victory at league leaders Manchester City.
This run of form has moved Leeds up to 10th in the table, just 7 points off Liverpool.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men have lost six of their 15 home games this season – only one of those was within their last five matches at Elland Road.
Liverpool Form
Liverpool have won four of their last six games in what has been a gradual, but definite, upturn in form for Jürgen Klopp’s team.
The Reds have won five of their last six Premier League outings away from home.
TEAM NEWS
Leeds Team News
Liam Cooper misses this game for Leeds. The centre-back got a three-game suspension after receiving a straight red card in the first half against Manchester City last weekend.
On-loan midfielder Jack Harrison should be back in the starting eleven after he had to sit out the last match against his parent club.
Raphinha went off injured against Manchester City but, luckily for Leeds, Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t think he will miss Monday’s game.
Pascal Struijk will most likely deputise at centre-half in place of the suspended Cooper.
Patrick Bamford will lead the line in attack with Raphinha and Harrison providing the ammunition for the striker from the flanks.
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool are without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Joël Matip, Jordan Henderson, Divock Origi, and Caoimhin Kelleher. Curtis Jones is also a doubt for The Reds.
Alisson will continue in goal for Jürgen Klopp’s team with a relatively ‘settled’ back four in front of him.
The backline should be Trent Alexander-Arnold, Nat Phillips, Ozan Kabak, and Andy Robertson.
In midfield, I think Thiago Alcântara will return to the starting lineup alongside Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum.
The front line could see Diogo Jota coming in for either Bobby Firmino or Sadio Mané. Firmino might be the one on the bench for this game.
PREDICTED LINEUPS
Leeds XI (4-1-4-1) – Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Alioski; Phillips; Raphinha, Dallas, Roberts, Harrison; Bamford
Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, Kabak, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Thiago; Jota, Salah, Mané
WHEN THEY LAST MET
Liverpool won 4-3 when the sides met at Anfield on the opening weekend of the season back in September. The visitors’ goals that day came from Jack Harrison, Patrick Bamford, and Mateusz Klich. Mohamed Salah bagged a hat-trick – including 2x penalties – and Virgil van Dijk scored Liverpool’s other goal.
The last league clash between the teams at Elland Road was a 2-2 draw in February 2004. Harry Kewell and Milan Baros scored for Liverpool with Eirik Bakke and Mark Viduka netting Leeds’ goals.
PREDICTION
LEEDS 1 – 2 LIVERPOOL
It’s all-or-nothing now for Liverpool as they prepare for a battle to snatch a top-four spot and Champions League football next season. Monday night’s match could be an absolute gem with neither side likely to sit back. There should be goals. Let’s just hope most of them are for The Reds.
