Javi Gracia won’t spend too much time analysing Leeds United’s Premier League win over Liverpool earlier in the season. The Whites brought an end to their eight-game winless streak back in October with a shock 2-1 win over Jurgen Klopp’s side at Anfield, with Crysencio Summerville scoring an 89th-minute winner.
Leeds are still the only team to take three league points off the Reds on Merseyside this season, and that result brought an end to Liverpool’s remarkable a run of 81 games without defeat at home in front of fans. However, it’s fair to say the circumstances are completely different for both teams now.
United resemble a very different side at present with changes coming on the field and in the dugout at Elland Road and with the end of the season approaching, they find themselves in a desperate scrap at the bottom. Liverpool are under pressure, too, and they’ll travel to West Yorkshire needing a win to breathe life into their hopes of qualifying for Europe.
Read more: Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have 'nothing to lose' in Leeds United 'fight' at Elland Road
Gracia hopes that result, which came under the stewardship of Jesse Marsch, can give his players confidence when the two teams meet on Monday night, but he knows plenty of water has passed under the bridge since that moment.
“We got a good result in the first game but now everything changed,” Gracia said. “We have to ready for another game.
“Of course for the mentality of the players is good. They know they were able to go get a good result there but all of them know now it’s another game. We have to again to be ready for a very tough game.”
Liverpool are currently eighth in the Premier League table after enduring an underwhelming season under Klopp. The Reds will be buoyed by the point they picked up last time out against league leaders Arsenal, though, and Gracia is more than aware of the threat they carry.
“Very dangerous,” Gracia added when asked about Liverpool. “A very good team. Very well organised.
“They know perfectly the way they play and it’s hard to play against them. But in this moment the importance of the games left is crucial for us and then we don't pay attention if we play against one team or not and pay attention to the importance of the points.
“For us it’s crucial, vital, this game. This is something we have to take and try to give everything in this game. It’s not a final because we have to play eight games but we have to live it like a final knowing it will be a very demanding game but we have to give our 100 per cent.”
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