Liverpool ahead Mohamed Salah’s lack of type makes the four-time Premier League golden boot winner “fairly harmful”, Leeds United supervisor Daniel Farke has mentioned.
Salah struck 29 occasions in 2024/25 to complete on six targets greater than every other 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 recreation, remaining an unused substitute.
“The extra video games he has and not using a objective or help, the extra probably it’s that he’ll rating or help,” mentioned Farke, acknowledging a “troublesome” run of type for Salah, whose four-goal tally within the prime flight this time period has been matched by teammate Cody Gakpo.
“We simply need to make it possible for the spell lasts another recreation. I’m fairly positive he will probably be there, on the finish of the season, with many targets.
“He’s nonetheless there – he’s the very best scorer within the league for them – so I’ve little doubt he’ll ship unbelievable issues this season. He has completed 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 Highway via targets 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 house to Sunderland, who would have received however for Nordi Mukiele’s 81st-minute personal objective.
“Even [current Premier League top scorer] Erling Haaland had a interval when he was not scoring,” Farke mentioned 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 the earth typically have a recreation or no matter the place they don’t have their finest recreation.
“In the event you’re a striker, typically you possibly can lose the ball and and no-one is simply too aware of it. However one little mistake within the again row is very often punished and criticised.
“I’ve little doubt that we’ll 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: in opposition to Actual Madrid [a 1-0 Champions League home victory] it was a clean-sheet win, in opposition to West Ham it was a clean-sheet win.
“I don’t wish to evaluate West Ham with Actual Madrid, however at Champions League and Premier League degree they’ve delivered clear sheets.”
Leeds vs Chelsea: Farke backs gamers
Farke remained the odds-on favorite on Thursday to turn out to be the subsequent Premier League boss to go away their submit, with Reds counterpart Arne Slot additionally among the many frontrunners after a dire run by the requirements the Dutchman set on his method 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 have been unlucky to lose to a 91st-minute Manchester Metropolis winner of their previous away recreation.
“The nice factor we will additionally take out of the Chelsea recreation is that we now have confirmed we will rating kind of out of every scenario: set-pieces, counter-attacks, out of possession, by creating via the centre and the wings,” advised Farke.
“What I like about my staff is that we now have scored three targets in opposition to a great defending aspect in Chelsea, and we might have scored a couple of extra. I at all times again my gamers to create one thing and rating targets.”
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 Most important Occasion, Sky Sports activities Premier League and Sky Sports activities Extremely.
By way of 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 embrace entry to all 12 reside Sky Sports activities channels and Sky Sports activities+, which gives reside streams and a devoted channel.
Streaming is obtainable on an unlimited number of gadgets through the Sky GO app.
Premier League fixtures this weekend
All matches begin at 15:00 GMT / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT except acknowledged 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)
