After Wednesday night’s triumph over Chelsea, Leeds United are looking for their second scalp in the space of four days with a win over Liverpool on Saturday night.
Daniel Farke saved his job after masterminding a stunning 3-1 win over Chelsea at Elland Road, with Ao Tanaka, Jaka Bijol and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all scoring, while substitute Pedro Neto scored for Chelsea.
Prediction time for Leeds United v Liverpool 🔮
Reports before the game suggested Farke could be sacked if he lost against Chelsea, with Paraag Marathe in attendance. However, Farke had put some credit in the bank ahead of Saturday against Liverpool.
Farke is not out of the woods yet, but he will know this is the best possible time to play Liverpool. Arne Slot’s side has lost nine of their last 14 games, drawing 1-1 with Sunderland on Wednesday evening.
Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville predict narrow 2-1 win
Michael Owen said that Leeds can get something against Liverpool if they play as they did against Chelsea. But Carragher and Neville still feel Liverpool will go and get a result away at Elland Road.
Speaking on Stick To Football, which was recorded before Wednesday night’s fixtures as made clear earlier on in the show, Carragher said Liverpool would go 2-0 up and Leeds would score a goal late on.
Neville started by saying: “I’m doing this game. I think Liverpool will win,” before Carragher replied: “Liverpool will go 2-0 up, and Leeds score with five minutes to go.” Neville agreed, declaring: “2-1.”
The highlights of stunning Leeds United win v Chelsea 😍
Daniel Farke isn’t out of the woods as Leeds eye second scalp
Marathe’s attendance at Elland Road on Wednesday night spoke a 1000 words. But the Leeds chairman will now have to stand back at least for a few games as Farke returns Leeds to the point-a-game curve.
Defeat against Liverpool on Saturday and Leeds could easily slip into the bottom three again. Indeed, the Whites may go into the weekend in the bottom three if West Ham beat Man United at Old Trafford.
Losing to Liverpool, having beaten Chelsea, will not be the end of Farke. But Farke needs to show Marathe and Leeds fans that the Chelsea win wasn’t a one-off. It doesn’t feel like it, with Leeds looking fluent.
It wasn’t just the win over Chelsea in which the 3-5-2 system has worked, either. The second half against Man City was just as good and now, Leeds need to maintain that level of intensity against Liverpool.
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