The small matter of relegation from the Premier League and qualification for European competition next season is set to be addressed on Monday night at 8pm BST as it’s Leeds vs Liverpool at Elland Road. Who will prevail victorious in this clash between two iconic top-flight teams currently experiencing their own pressures to get a result?
Whites in Battle to Avoid Relegation Black Hole
Leeds could well be situated in the bottom three come kick-off in this game. Everton face Fulham on Saturday and Nottingham Forest host Manchester United on Sunday. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that comes with the unpredictable nature of this stage of the season that both home teams could win those matches.
Current manager Javi Gracia has undoubtedly improved results since he came in at the end of February but the club remain in 16th position and just 2 points above the relegation zone. The team are now priced at 7/2 with Betway to be relegated so the best bookmakers are backing them to stay up.
Home form had appeared to be the secret sauce for Gracia with the club going unbeaten with 2 wins and a draw in his first 3 home league matches at the helm. However, the 5-1 defeat to fellow relegation battlers Crystal Palace last time out quickly ruined that streak. Still, the club’s home form overall this season has been OK with 5 wins, 5 draws, and 5 defeats. The team can have confidence knowing they’ve taken points in 66% of their home encounters this season.
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Reds Facing Unexpected European Exile
It’s been a disappointing season for Liverpool. The departure of Sadio Mane and injuries to key players throughout the season appear to have damaged their prospects. The Reds sit in 8th place and 12 points off the pace of the top four spots with just 8-10 league games left to play for the clubs in the mix. The club are available at a distant 11/1 to qualify for the Champions League and you have to say that the likes of Aston Villa and Brighton, given their current form, are in a healthier position.
Jurgen Klopp killed the speculation surrounding the transfer rumours linking the club with Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham and it gives the suggestion that we’re going to see a big rebuild at Anfield this summer with a number of players coming in rather than one or two big names for big money. Given that the club are now without a win in their last 4 league games you have to wonder what the mood is like behind closed doors. Yes, they have had tricky fixtures and did come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the league leaders last week but Andrew Robertson losing his temper with the linesman last weekend suggests all is not well.
Away form is a particular worry for Liverpool right now. Not only have they only managed to get 1 win from their last 8 league games on the road, including no win in their last 4 away league matches, but they have only been able to score 1 goal in their last 4 games on their travels in the league. It does make you question the odds of 8/11 that Unibet are offering for a Liverpool win here. The return of Luis Diaz for this game could help that and he’s 2/1 with Betfair to score anytime.
Head-to-Head Meetings
There are not many matches that evoke as many nostalgic Premier League memories as Leeds vs Liverpool. Tony Yeboah’s epic stunning strike to deliver a 1-0 win for the Yorkshire club on 21st August, 1995. Mark Viduka bagging all 4 goals in a 4-3 win for Leeds back on 4th November, 2000. Then there’s the dramatic conclusion to the 4-3 win for Liverpool back on 12th September, 2020 when Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick including an 88th minute penalty that won the game.
Recent history has not been too kind to Leeds in this fixture though. Yes, they won the last encounter 2-1 at Anfield back in October but that was a victory that ended a winless run in this fixture that lasted 12 matches across all competitions. In fact, Leeds haven’t beaten Liverpool on their own patch since that Viduka masterclass in 2000. No wonder they are valued as the 7/2 underdogs with BetVictor.
Leeds vs Liverpool Betting Tips
We’ve officially entered that tricky stage of the season where results start to go against the form book. As teams start to feel the pressure of expectations and the threat of what could be if they don’t win then performances become more erratic. It’s certainly the case here where we have two teams who will be disappointed about how their seasons have gone so far but they can still end their campaigns on a positive note.
I’ve really struggled to find the confidence to back Liverpool much this season. They are on a bit of a dogged spell right now but that draw earned against Arsenal could provide a boost in spirits. Elland Road is a difficult place to come when the fans back the home team and Leeds need their fans more than ever here. I think backing Leeds as a double chance could be worth a shout here. They are fighting for their lives and there’s just no value in that Liverpool to win price. There’s the potential for this to be a real firecracker of a game so total goals scored over 2.5 looks appealing too even at that short price.
Leeds Double Chance @ 23/20 with SpreadEx
Total Goals Scored Over 2.5 @ 4/7 with Paddy Power
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
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