Leeds United welcome Jurgen Klopp’s poor travellers Liverpool to Elland Road on Monday
evening – and will be looking to bounce back from their capitulation against Crystal Palace.
Leeds United vs Liverpool – Monday, 8:00pm
Key stats
- Leeds United have the second-worst defensive home record in the league with 24 goals
conceded at Elland Road. - Liverpool have won just three of the 15 Premier League matches they have played away from
Anfield. - Victory for Leeds would mean a first league double over Liverpool since 2000/01.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five visits to Elland Road.
Leeds United vs Liverpool – Verdict
Despite enjoying a strong start to the campaign under Jesse Marsch, Leeds United
subsequently slid down the table and haven’t been able to distance themselves from the bottom
three for much of the season.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are making extremely hard work of booking their place in Europe. The
Champions League is starting to look out of reach, while even the Europa League could be a
bridge too far. Although Leeds have struggled in 2023, going winless in 11 of their 14 Premier League
matches, the Whites have achieved just one win fewer than Liverpool.
The main issue for Klopp’s side has been winning games away from Anfield. Newcastle United
are the only side they have beaten since the turn of the year, with their dismal tally of four goals
in eight away matches the main cause. Despite their struggles in front of goal, it’s worth noting from a betting point of view that Leeds games guarantee goals.
Things feel more secure under the stewardship of Javi Gracia, or at least they did until Roy
Hodgson’s Crystal Palace thumped five past Illan Meslier at Elland Road last time out. The
second-half capitulation was unexpected to say the least, and it means that Leeds have
conceded more goals than any other Premier League side this calendar year.
Whether you love them or hate them, the Yorkshire outfit are always a captivating watch, and one pleasing aspect of their play has been their performance in front of goal. Patrick Bamford, Jack Harrison, Luis Sinisterra and Rodrigo have all been among the goals in recent weeks, with United registering 10 in their last five matches.
Liverpool’s leaky defence offers hope that Leeds could complete a Premier League double over
their visitors for the first time since the 2000/01 season, although the Reds’ growing vigour in
attack is the biggest threat to that.
Luis Diaz will be welcomed back into the fold in time for the trip to Elland Road. He’ll relish the
opportunity to run at an out-of-form Luke Ayling should he start, with the Colombian likely to
offer some of the pizzazz that Liverpool have missed on their recent travels.
Their second-half performance in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal was one of their better showings
and led to their highest xG of the season. Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino bagged
themselves a goal apiece, while Darwin Nunez should have scored too.
The comeback against the league leaders should have given the Reds some renewed optimism
heading into Monday Night Football and it isn’t as if they were lacking in motivation for this
fixture.
Leeds’ shock 2-1 win earlier in the campaign means that just they and Real Madrid have won at
Anfield this season. Klopp has referenced that result in the build-up to this match, with the
expectation his side will play with an intensity that was missing in October.
Neither side can be trusted to keep a clean sheet at this point, so backing both teams to score
feels like a good starting point. If you fancy a big price, then it isn’t beyond the realms of
possibility that both sides find the net more than once.
Neither side can be trusted to keep a clean sheet at this point, so backing both teams to score
feels like a good starting point. If you fancy a big price, then it isn’t beyond the realms of
possibility that both sides find the net more than once.
