Leeds vs Liverpool Preview: Reds Seek Momentum After Sunderland Setback preview

Liverpool travel to Elland Road on Saturday looking to respond after their first draw of the Premier League season against Sunderland. A deflected effort off Chemsdine Talbi, recorded as an own goal, spoiled celebrations at Anfield after Florian Wirtz was initially thought to have opened his Premier League account for the Reds.

Despite the frustration, Liverpool remain in the top half of the table. Sitting ninth, they are just four points off the top four if momentum can begin to build. Avoiding defeat against Leeds would see the Reds go unbeaten in three consecutive matches for the first time since September a timely development ahead of a daunting Champions League tie with Inter Milan.

Leeds arrive with confidence renewed after a vital victory over Chelsea, a result which pushed the Blues from second to fourth in the table. That triumph ended a four-game losing run and lifted Daniel Farke’s side out of the relegation zone. Returning to Elland Road off the back of such a result, Leeds will hope to carry that momentum into another challenging fixture.

Leeds’ last full Premier League campaign included a memorable 2-1 win at Anfield in October 2022, although Liverpool responded emphatically with a 6-1 victory at Elland Road in April 2023. The Reds have not lost on this ground for 25 years a record they will be keen to preserve.

Team News:

Ahead of the draw with Sunderland, Arne Slot expressed optimism that Conor Bradley could return from a muscular injury in time for the trip to Leeds. However, Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined with a thigh problem, and Giovanni Leoni continues his recovery from an ACL injury.

Bradley’s return would be particularly welcome, with Joe Gomez unlikely to be asked to start for a third time in the space of a week. Curtis Jones and Dominik Szoboszlai are alternative options at right-back if required.

Mohamed Salah was benched in consecutive matches for the first time in his Liverpool career, but following a laboured draw against Sunderland, he is expected to return to his usual place in the starting line-up. Federico Chiesa will also hope his late intervention midweek — blocking Wilson Isidor’s goal-bound effort — has strengthened his case for minutes at Elland Road.

There are growing concerns for Leeds, however, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha both major doubts due to calf and hamstring injuries respectively.

Daniel Farke has also cast doubt over whether Ao Tanaka can start again so soon, while Daniel James and Sean Longstaff remain unavailable with hamstring and calf problems.

Both sides enter Saturday’s meeting with something to prove. Leeds will look to turn one big result into sustained momentum, while Liverpool seek a sharper response as they chase consistency.