Leeds United-Liverpool Preview

Jesse Marsch knows how difficult his Leeds United side will have it going to Liverpool on Saturday, with the Reds "ready to fight" as they look to get their season back on track.

Liverpool are eighth in the Premier League, a far cry from last season's title challenge, although they have won four in a row in the Champions League to reach the next round.

Leeds have also found the going tough in the league, even if Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes there has been "a massive difference between the results they got and the performance they put in".

Marsch is under pressure and is not expecting to be given an easy ride at Anfield.

"Liverpool have been one of the best in world over last four or five years," he said. "I think that no matter what it's a group of professional players who understand what the demands are. Their backs have been against the wall already a little bit this year, in different ways than where we are at.

"We know the quality they have. At home, they're incredibly good, and the way they responded in the game against Ajax shows everything. We're expecting their absolute best."

Klopp said Liverpool have "a better feeling" after winning against Ajax, but there was little time to reflect as attention turns to five matches before the World Cup break, all of which are "super important".

"That's our situation," he said. "Yes, the moment is okay, we are ready to fight again, I hope the people are ready to fight again.

"It's 7:45, Saturday night, a great time to play a football game. Everybody is in the right shape, and let's go for it."

Liverpool – Darwin Nunez

Nunez has scored six goals in all competitions this season, despite taking only four of his 14 'big chances', from which Opta would expect a player to score. He is involved in everything Liverpool do going forward and could be devastating if he finds a little more consistency in front of goal.

Leeds United – Patrick Bamford

Leeds also have a forward who has too often been wasteful. Bamford has underperformed his xG by a league-leading 4.0 as he waits on his first goal of the season, and Leeds simply cannot afford to carry such a player in the position they find themselves in. The England forward must become more clinical.

– Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games against Leeds United (W7 D3) since a 2-1 home defeat in April 2001.

– Leeds have lost their last four away Premier League matches against Liverpool, shipping 16 goals in these defeats, including 10 in their last two visits (3-4 in 2020-21, 0-6 in 2021-22).

– Liverpool have already lost more Premier League games this season (three) than they did in the whole of 2021-22 (two), while their 16 points from 11 games is their worst return at this stage of a campaign since 2014-15 (14).

– Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 29 Premier League home games (W22 D7), scoring 73 goals and conceding just 16 in that run. They have won the last two 1-0, having fallen behind in five of their previous six at Anfield.

– Leeds are winless in their last eight league games (D2 L6), the longest winless run among all current Premier League sides.

Updated October 28, 2022