Liverpool : Opening day of the English Premier League 2020/21 kick starts with a match between defending Champions Liverpool FC and Championship winners Leeds United.
Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp has been a transformed side. They won their first Barclays English Premier League title back in June, 2020. Fast forward 3 months and stepping into a new season post pandemic, Liverpool wants to hold their status which they have created in last three years. The defence has been like a rock under the leadership of vice captain, Virgil van Dijk, with the likes of English international Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold by his side with Scottish left-back Andy Robertson. The midfield works tirelessly for Liverpool. With the Brazilian Fabinho in the middle and he has been assisted by Jordon Henderson (Club Captain), Gigi Wijnaldum or Naby Keita or the English veteran James Milner. And the deadly frontline includes Mohammad Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
Leeds United weaknesses explained by @DistanceCovered👇https://t.co/qQmW7fcGh9
— Liverpool FC News (@LivEchoLFC) September 12, 2020
They have a been a complete side and can challenge any team in the world, no doubt they were the most deserving Champions last season. Kick start to this season, things haven’t changed much in the Merseyside. They were strong and an unite side and will try to carry it forward this season.
On Saturdays match, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp keeps the similar team which he has kept before. He prefers the 4-3-3 formation and the starting line-up would be like this, Allison on Goal, van Dijk and Joe Gomez on the middle with Alexander-Arnold and Robertson as two wing backs. In midfield, Fabinho might start with Henderson and Wijnaldum. And the usual front three of Salah, Firmino and Mane. They want to start the season with a bang against the new boys Leeds, it will be after 16 years they are going to face each other in the Premier League.
Klopp believes in his side. He said, “Clubs are in different situations and we are living in uncertainty in the world”. He added, “For some clubs it seems to be less important how uncertain the future is because they are owned by countries, owned by oligarchs, and that is the truth. We are a different kind of club. We reached the Champions League final two years ago, won it the following year and won the Premier League by being the club we are.”
Leeds on the other hand under the leadership of Marcelo Bielsa came back into the English top flight. It was a struggle of 16 years for the Yorkshire side to be back in the Premier League. They have been a critically acclaimed side by the experts and considered to cause upsets in the EPL 2020/21 just like old times. Leeds last won against Liverpool back in 2001, with a goal from Rio Ferdinand. Fast forward 19 years, things have changed in England. The domination of Manchester United is over and the rise of Liverpool and Manchester City has been witnessed. In this era of dominance, it won’t be easy for the Yorkshire boys to pull out an upset against the Merseyside boys. But yes, first match of the season will always be difficult and different for the favourites and Bielsa’s men wants to hit them in that area.
The 16 years are over. #WeAreBack pic.twitter.com/aZ8uoDEBxa
— Leeds United (@LUFC) September 12, 2020
Inclusion of Spanish International Rodrigo from Valencia has made their striking force stronger and better and Kalvin Philips who has made his international debut for England last week shows promise. The Argentine Manager who has extended his contract with the Yorkshire side stated that, “With the work that Klopp has done everywhere he has worked, it has given him the opportunity to shine everywhere he has been, any words that I add would just be repeating the praise he has already rightly received.”
Leeds United’s probable starting XI will be Illan Meslier on Goal. Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas in the defence. Kalvin Philips, Mateuz Klich, Helder Costa, Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison in the midfield. They might start with their top scorer last season with 16 goals, Patrick Bamford and later their latest signing, Spanish International, Rodrigo might play.
Liverpool haven’t lost 59 games till now since 2017 at the Anfield in the Premier League. It might be a shocker if Leeds United beats them on the opening day of the season. But everything is possible in football.
