A match that promises to be among the best all season in the Premier League will take place in North Yorkshire on Sunday, as Marcelo Bielsa's "murderball" Leeds United team will take on Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and their "heavy metal football" style of play.
The first match between these two, a year ago to the day on Sunday, finished 4-3 to Liverpool in a game that had Klopp repeating the word "wow" to himself after the final whistle. What can we expect this time around, as two of the most entertaining sides in the world clash? Read on for our Leeds United vs. Liverpool tips and predictions, with kickoff set for 11:30 a.m. ET on September 12.
Leeds United vs Liverpool game info
• Location: Elland Road, Leeds, England
• Date: Sunday, September 12, 2021
• Time: 11:30 a.m. ET
• TV: NBCSN, DAZN
Leeds United vs Liverpool betting tips
- Liverpool (-143)
- Over 2.5 (-188)
Read on for complete analysis
Leeds United vs Liverpool match odds
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Leeds United vs Liverpool betting preview
Weather
A cloudy Sunday in Yorkshire will be the conditions for this one, with little chance of rain forecast throughout the day and temperatures expected around 60 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff.
Injuries
Leeds United: Robin Koch (Out), Raphina (Questionable).
Liverpool: Roberto Firmino (Out), Alisson (Questionable), Fabinho (Questionable), James Milner (Out), Takumi Minamino (Out).
Leeds United vs Liverpool predictions
Side pick
Liverpool supporters who felt a title defense was lost by the string of injuries suffered last season must feel validated through three weeks, as the Reds have two wins and a draw in a nearly perfect start. Even the one blip, a draw against 10-man Chelsea, saw Liverpool create 2.7 expected goals despite being unable to pot a winner. Diogo Jota has two of seven goals for a team that needed fresh blood in their front three, while Mohamed Salah has continued his phenomenal rate of production.
Most importantly, Virgil van Dijk's return has stabilized their backline, as they've conceded just one goal. A title challenge may be a step too far against the depth of talent Chelsea and Manchester City boast, but Liverpool can beat any team in the world on their day.
Visiting Elland Road is never an easy task, and certainly not at full capacity, with Liverpool and Leeds splitting points in a 1-1 draw there a year ago. However, Leeds are yet to hit their stride in the new season, with two draws following a brutal 5-1 loss to rivals Manchester United on the opening weekend.
A 2-2 draw with Everton was well earned but required a stunning equalizer from Raphina and, despite the draw, they were outdone in xG 1.5 to 2.1. Worse still was a 1-1 draw with Burnley, who look like relegation fodder this season, where the xG finished 1.5-1.4. To create chances at the same rate as Burnley is a worrisome result for any team, especially so for a team like Leeds that scored the seventh-most goals in the Premier League a year ago while creating the fifth most expected goals and are yet to add much quality to their backline since promotion.
Leeds are too well-coached to not get themselves out of the rut they've begun the season in, but facing a Top-4 side in form is a difficult ask for any team. Liverpool took four points off Leeds United last season and created 5.6 xG in two games, compared to Leeds' 2.4. They'll continue their bright start with three points in one of England's most hostile venues.
PICK: Liverpool (-143)
Over/Under pick
As mentioned off the top, Liverpool and Leeds played out one of the best games across Europe to begin last season, a 4-3 thriller played at an electrifying pace. With Bielsa and Klopp still on the touchline for their respective clubs, there is no reason to expect a change in philosophies, as the two world-class managers are married to the styles that have made them famous and brought them success.
As it relates to Sunday's match, the Liverpool side that found the decisive fourth goal last season was one that predated the injury crisis that ruined their season. van Dijk was at center-back on that day and will retain his place on Sunday, with the Reds likely to start eight of 11 from that match in this one. The same could be said about Leeds, who will likely start seven players who started that one, including key figures in Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling, and Patrick Bamford.
The returning cast of characters only furthers the idea that Liverpool and Leeds will delight viewers once again but ultimately, it's about the managers. Styles make fights, and there are no two styles more compelling against one another than Bielsa's murderball and Klopp's heavy metal football. There will be rapid ball movement, direct and vertical play, high-pressing, and tons of attacking intent. We may not get seven goals again but we'll get more than enough to go Over the 2.5 goal total.
PICK: Over 2.5 (-188)
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