Game Week 15 Predictions: Liverpool must beat Leeds

Leeds vs Liverpool Preview: Relegation-battling Leeds ride Chelsea high, fragile Reds desperate for Isak spark at Elland Road. Liverpool must win.

Leeds United beat Chelsea in midweek, can they beat an out-of-form Liverpool at Elland Road too? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Leeds vs Liverpool

Elland Road

6:30pm

Despite their struggles and the fact that they have lost many games this season, Liverpool are only two points off the top four. How insane is that?

Also, Leeds United suddenly look like they’re not in trouble after a sensational result at home against Chelsea in midweek. They’re now two points above West Ham, as the result at home against the Blues got them out of the relegation zone.

Liverpool needs to bring the best out of Alexander Isak; the Swede admits he’s been off the pace, and a deep dive into his stats shows that he has fallen off significantly in key areas where he excelled last season, including touches in the opposition area, shots and goals.

Leeds United doesn’t have any superstar that you look at as a game changer; this makes life harder in tough times, but Daniel Farke has to leverage the big result in midweek as a motivation for his side to keep going. If Sunderland could do it, they could too. That should be their mindset ahead of this one.

Liverpool is low on confidence; there could be something there for Leeds to latch on to. However, if you’re looking for a game to pick things up, it has to be this one. Leeds United concede goals a lot; they leave spaces in behind, and that could help the likes of Alexander Isak on Saturday.

A win is important for Liverpool. The Kops have a date in the Champions League on Wednesday, and it’s away at Inter Milan. Liverpool needs a win in that one as well, as they hope to finish in the top eight, which guarantees round of 16 football without a need for a playoff.

How will they approach this? Should Federico Chiesa be getting a start at this point? Whenever he comes on, he contributes greatly, and he’s been a lot more immense than Mohamed Salah, who leaves for AFCON right after this game.

Leeds United will keep the same shape that beat Chelsea. You don’t change a winning team, and Farke doesn’t even have enough ammunition. All the hosts must do here is to not concede too early; they don’t want to start chasing the game from the blast of the whistle.

No one would be surprised if Liverpool wins this one, but Arne Slot doesn’t want to spend the rest of the weekend explaining another loss or points dropped. The champions are certainly not going to retain their title, but they don’t want to be the worst defending champions ever.

Verdict: Liverpool must win.