Liverpool possess a huge opportunity as they host Leeds in tonight’s rearranged Premier League fixture.
The Reds suddenly have renewed purpose in the top-flight after Tottenham’s stunning last-gasp win away at leaders Manchester City on Saturday appeared to blow the title race wide open.
City’s lead previously looked insurmountable, but could be reduced to just three points if Liverpool see off a Leeds side that will be beginning to look nervously over their shoulders once more.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side - who entertain Tottenham at the weekend - sit just five points above the relegation zone after failing to win any of their last four matches, recovering a 2-0 deficit against Manchester United in woeful conditions at Elland Road on Sunday before going on to lose 4-2 to their fierce rivals.
Bielsa’s future remains in question and will be assessed at the end of the season, when his latest rolling one-year contract is due to expire.
Liverpool, meanwhile, trailed 1-0 at home to relegation battlers Norwich on Saturday before hitting back quickly to win 3-1 thanks to goals from Sadio Mane, Mo Salah - his 150th for the club - and impressive January signing Luis Diaz.
Jurgen Klopp’s men remain in the hunt for four trophies this term and any plans to rest players again on Wednesday - as they did against Norwich - ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final clash with Chelsea at Wembley will have been complicated by the latest title race developments.
Date, kick-off time and venue
Liverpool vs Leeds - originally supposed to take place on Boxing Day, only to be postponed due to the number of Covid-19 cases in the Leeds squad - is scheduled for a 7:45pm GMT kick-off tonight, on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
The game will take place at Anfield.
Where to watch Liverpool vs Leeds
TV channel: Tonight’s match is not available to watch live on TV in the UK.
Liverpool vs Leeds team news
Liverpool remain without both Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino, who were injured in the Champions League last-16 first-leg win over Inter Milan last week and missed the subsequent meeting with Norwich.
They’ve each been ruled out of Wednesday’s game too and remain huge doubts for Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Liverpool otherwise have a clean bill of health. Klopp made eight changes against Norwich and it will be interesting to see his selection against Leeds as he bids to juggle a rejuvenated title challenge with the shot at more cup silverware.
Leeds remain without key stars such as Kalvin Phillips, captain Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford, with youngsters Sam Greenwood and Leo Fuhr Hjelde also out.
Versatile German midfielder Robin Koch will be absent after suffering a head injury during an accidental clash with Scott McTominay during the defeat by Manchester United.
Koch was initially permitted to play on in that match before then being substituted after showing the symptoms of concussion.
The PFA and brain charity Headway are among those to have criticised current protocols over head injuries, though Bielsa launched an impassioned defence of how his medical staff coped with the incident at Elland Road.
“If there’s something that the medical staff at Leeds have done, and I as an extension of their decisions, it’s to abide strictly by the rules whether by Covid or any knocks to the head or any other case,” he said.
“If any club has acted impeccably with the rules regards to health, it’s Leeds.”
He added: “We did nothing different to the protocol. We did everything according to the protocol. I was convinced it was just the bleeding from the cut. That was the first conclusion after the evaluation the player had.
“When he manifested different symptoms, he was substituted. The control the player receives when they get this type of knock, the protocol that is applied is what generates whether he should be substituted or not.”
Liverpool vs Leeds prediction
Liverpool were initially frustrated against Norwich before the full extent of their firepower simply overwhelmed the struggling Canaries, even without Jota and Firmino.
This is a golden chance to pile huge pressure on Manchester City in a title race previously presumed to be a foregone conclusion, with Pep Guardiola’s team travelling to Everton on Saturday.
Leeds certainly aren’t lacking commitment and scoring goals doesn’t seem to be a problem, but leaking them most certainly is and will drag them fully into a relegation dogfight if those issues aren’t corrected very quickly.
Leeds have shipped 10 goals in their last three games alone and that figure is only likely to increase here.
Provided Klopp picks the right lineup, this should be a comfortable evening for Liverpool to move within three points of top spot.
Liverpool 3-1 Leeds.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Premier League only
Liverpool wins: 16
Leeds wins: 6
Draws: 5
