Liverpool breezed past Norwich City on Saturday and next up, they take on Leeds United in a midweek Premier League fixture.
The Anfield outfit go into Wednesday’s game as the heavy favourites but next weekend, Liverpool take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final so Jurgen Klopp will surely select his starting lineup keeping that game in mind.
We expect the manager to heavily rotate his starting XI and given how leaky Leeds’ defence looked against Manchester United, Liverpool should be winning this one rather comfortably.
Leeds United haven’t kept a clean sheet in 11 matches and they have a goal difference of negative 21. They did concede four goals vs United but they also scored two. So if Liverpool play a second fiddle side there’s every chance that Bielsa’s men can take something from this game.
Man City dropped points against Spurs on Saturday so Klopp’s side are just six points behind the league leaders. Liverpool will be within three points off City if they can win their game in hand meaning this midweek tie is an absolute must-win for Klopp.
Liverpool team news vs Leeds United:
Ibrahima Konate played in central defence against Inter Milan so he’s going to be the one who will play in the League Cup final as well. This means Joel Matip will hold onto his place in the side.
Tsimikas played on Saturday but against Leeds United, he is likely to move to the bench making way for Robertson while Trent Alexander-Arnold plays on the other side of defence.
🗣 “F–k it, Mo Salah down there somewhere”
(via @LFC) pic.twitter.com/cXsjgV3IWO
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 20, 2022
The midfield will also see a reshuffle with Thiago coming in to replace Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabinho replacing Naby Keita. Henderson though should be holding onto his place.
Liverpool have been sweating over the fitness of Jota and Firmino and the manager has now ruled both of them out of the midweek game and there’s a chance they could miss the League Cup final as well.
“Yes, it’s too early,” the manager admitted when asked about Firmino and Jota’s availability for the Carabao Cup final.
“I don’t even know if it will be a late decision or not; how I said, it’s too early. I saw them both today, they both look great – but those two always look great.
“We have to see how the specific issues develop but we obviously will try everything.”
Sadio Mane played as the centre-forward during the weekend and the Liverpool boss could go with this same formation against Leeds as well. Klopp also has the option of using Divock Origi upfront with Mane and Salah as the two wide players.
Luis Diaz was outstanding against the Canaries but if Origi starts then the January signing will only get a watching brief on Wednesday.
Liverpool predicted line up vs Leeds United:
Predicted Starting Line up(4-3-3): Alisson; Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson, Alexander-Arnold; Henderson; Thiago, Fabinho; Mo Salah, Mane, Diaz/Origi.
