Liverpool FC kick off their Premier League title defense against last season’s Championship winners Leeds United on Saturday afternoon. The Reds will certainly be hoping to start their 2020-21 league campaign on a winning note against a resilient looking Leeds side managed by the veteran coach Marco Bielsa.
A game at Anfield is always a joyous occasion for Liverpool FC supporters, having not seen their side being subject to defeat at home for almost three years now. However, Jurgen Klopp will be aware of his players being anything but complacent when Leeds United visit the historic venue of football over this weekend.
The Premier League champions’ pre-season form was not the most convincing of displays by a team that has stormed to domestic as well as continental success over the past couple of seasons. A FA Community shield loss to Arsenal on a penalty shootout last month majorly headlined Liverpool FC’s run of results prior to the commencement of the new season.
However, the Reds do have it in themselves to bounce back from their lackluster form of late to stage an epic display of football against Bielsa’s men. With a near full-strength squad at his disposal, Klopp would be optimistic about his team’s chances of getting their 2020-21 Premier League season underway on a delightful note for the club’s supporters who will be watching their side play from everywhere but the stands of Anfield.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Saturday 12 September
Time: 2 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Jurgen Klopp could be forced to select a playing XI for Saturday afternoon’s game without his skipper Jordan Henderson in the fray due to the 30-year old still being on the recovery table for a knee injury suffered last season.
First-team stars Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Xherdan Shaqiri are also expected to sit out the Leeds game with recent injuries having curtailed their first-team action on the pitch as of now.
Liverpool FC’s only signing of this summer’s transfer window, Kostas Tsimikas, tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week. As a result, the Greek full-back will not be in the matchday squad for the match against Saturday’s opponents, reports confirm.
As for the visitors, midfield star Adam Forshaw is sidelined due to a hip injury and will not take any part in the game at Anfield. Other than the 28-year old, no fresh injury concerns are reported to be there for Marco Bielsa’s side.
Club-record signing Rodrigo, who signed for Leeds United for Valencia this summer, is tipped to lead the side upfront.
LIVERPOOL VS LEEDS UNITED PREDICTED LINEUP
Liverpool FC: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum; Mohammad Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane
Leeds United FC: Meslier; Luke Ayling, Cooper, Robin Koch, Dallas; Helder Costa, Pablo Hernandez, Kalvin Phillips, Klich, Harrison; Rodrigo
