Liverpool ahead Mohamed Salah’s lack of kind makes the four-time Premier League golden boot winner “fairly harmful”, Leeds United supervisor Daniel Farke has stated.
Salah struck 29 occasions in 2024/25 to complete on six objectives greater than another top-flight participant, however the revered ahead has scored 5 occasions in 18 matches in all competitions this season and was dropped for the primary time within the marketing campaign within the Reds’ 2-0 win at West Ham of their final away sport, remaining an unused substitute.
“The extra video games he has with out a aim or help, the extra doubtless it’s that he’ll rating or help,” stated Farke, acknowledging a “troublesome” run of kind for Salah, whose four-goal tally within the prime flight this time period has been matched by teammate Cody Gakpo.
“We simply should be sure that the spell lasts yet another sport. I’m fairly certain he will probably be there, on the finish of the season, with many objectives.
“He’s nonetheless there – he’s the very best scorer within the league for them – so I’ve little question he’ll ship unbelievable issues this season. He has carried out that for all of his profession.”
Leeds vs Liverpool: Van Dijk, Konate ‘excellent’
Leeds host Liverpool on Saturday after incomes their finest consequence up to now this season on Wednesday, beating title hopefuls Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Street by objectives by Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The consequence lifted final season’s Championship winners three factors away from the relegation zone, whereas Liverpool – who left Salah on the bench till half-time – didn’t win for the tenth time of their final 14 matches in all competitions with a 1-1 draw at dwelling to Sunderland, who would have gained however for Nordi Mukiele’s 81st-minute personal aim.
“Even [current Premier League top scorer] Erling Haaland had a interval when he was not scoring,” Farke stated of Salah, additionally providing his backing to centre-backs Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.
“It’s then at all times within the highlight as a result of it’s so uncommon. I wouldn’t label, with Van Dijk and Konate on the again, that they’re struggling.
“They’re excellent, world-class defenders and even the very best on this planet typically have a sport or no matter the place they don’t have their finest sport.
“For those who’re a striker, typically you’ll be able to lose the ball and and no-one is simply too privy to it. However one little mistake within the again row is very often punished and criticised.
“I’ve little question that we are going to face prime centre-backs – they’ve confirmed it over a few years, and this season I’ve additionally seen them in lots of video games: towards Actual Madrid [a 1-0 Champions League home victory] it was a clean-sheet win, towards West Ham it was a clean-sheet win.
“I don’t need to evaluate West Ham with Actual Madrid, however at Champions League and Premier League stage they’ve delivered clear sheets.”
Leeds vs Chelsea: Farke backs gamers
Farke remained the odds-on favorite on Thursday to develop into the following Premier League boss to depart their publish, with Reds counterpart Arne Slot additionally among the many frontrunners after a dire run by the requirements the Dutchman set on his strategy to profitable the title in his debut season in England in 2024/25.
Leeds had misplaced six of their earlier seven video games earlier than brushing apart the Blues, though they had been unlucky to lose to a 91st-minute Manchester Metropolis winner of their previous away sport.
“The nice factor we are able to additionally take out of the Chelsea sport is that we’ve got confirmed we are able to rating kind of out of each scenario: set-pieces, counter-attacks, out of possession, by creating by the centre and the wings,” recommended Farke.
“What I like about my group is that we’ve got scored three objectives towards defending facet in Chelsea, and we may have scored a number of extra. I at all times again my gamers to create one thing and rating objectives.”
How one can watch Leeds vs Liverpool: TV channel, on-line reside stream
Leeds vs Liverpool kicks off at 17:30 GMT (12:30 ET / 09:30 PT) on Saturday, December 6 and is being proven reside within the UK on Sky Sports activities Fundamental Occasion, Sky Sports activities Premier League and Sky Sports activities Extremely.
Through Now TV, Sky Sports activities prices £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports activities memberships embody entry to all 12 reside Sky Sports activities channels and Sky Sports activities+, which presents reside streams and a devoted channel.
Streaming is offered on an enormous number of gadgets by way of the Sky GO app.
Premier League fixtures this weekend
All matches begin at 15:00 GMT / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT until said in any other case.
Saturday, December 6
Aston Villa vs Arsenal (12:30)
Bournemouth vs Chelsea
Everton vs Nottingham Forest
Manchester Metropolis vs Sunderland
Newcastle vs Burnley
Tottenham vs Brentford
Leeds vs Liverpool (17:30)
Sunday, December 7
Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham (14:00)
Fulham vs Crystal Palace (16:30)
Monday, December 8
Wolves vs Manchester United (20:00)
