Arsenal away challenge West Ham. In the first half, Jesus and Edgardo scored two goals within three minutes, and Paraguay created a penalty that Benrahma hit. In the second half, Saka missed a goal, Bowen equalized, and Antonio hit the crossbar. The game ended with Arsenal 2-2 West Ham. It's a pity for the good situation. Today, let's continue to work hard and strive for good luck to continue our efforts!
- In the last match of the 31st round of the Premier League, Leeds United will host Liverpool at home. This is a life-and-death battle related to relegation and top four. Both sides need to fight for three points with all their strength. When the two teams first met this season, Leeds United unexpectedly defeated Liverpool away. In this match, Liverpool will do their best to seek revenge. So, what are the highlights of this match? Let's preview it together!
Leeds United: Huge pressure to avoid relegation, focus on defense at home
Leeds United's performance this season has been very unstable. The team has only achieved 7 wins, 8 draws, and 15 losses in 30 matches, currently ranking 16th in the standings, only 2 points ahead of the relegation zone. The team's relegation situation is very severe, especially considering the difficult schedule ahead. In addition to this round against Liverpool, they will also face Manchester City and Newcastle, two strong teams in the league. If they fail to win points in these three matches, Leeds United is likely to fall into the relegation zone.
Leeds United's biggest problem is defense. The team has conceded 51 goals in 30 matches, making them one of the teams that have conceded the most goals in the league. The team's defense often makes mistakes and has loopholes, allowing opponents to easily score. In the last round, Leeds United suffered a heavy 1-5 defeat at home to Crystal Palace, and their defensive performance was disappointing. In this match, if Leeds United wants to make a difference, they must rely on the advantage of playing at home, stabilize their defense, and try to limit the opponent's attack.
Liverpool: Slim hope for top four, seeking a rebound away
Liverpool has also encountered an unprecedented low this season. The team has only obtained 44 points in 29 matches, ranking 8th in the standings, already 12 points behind 4th-placed Manchester United. Although the team still has one game in hand, it will be very difficult to make up 12 points in the remaining 9 matches, especially considering the team's inconsistent performance this season. The team cannot afford to make mistakes and must strive for victory in every match.
Liverpool's biggest weakness is their away performance. The team has only obtained 13 points in 15 away matches, making them one of the worst-performing teams away from home in the league. The team often encounters upsets and draws away from home, resulting in a significant loss of points. In the last round, Liverpool drew 2-2 with Arsenal at home, making it their fourth consecutive winless match in the league. In this match, although Liverpool is playing away, they will do their best to defeat Leeds United, a relegation-threatened team, otherwise they will have no chance of reaching the top four.
Head-to-head record: Liverpool has an absolute advantage
The two teams have played against each other 24 times in the history of the Premier League, and Liverpool has an absolute advantage with 16 wins, 5 draws, and 3 losses, scoring 19 goals and conceding only 10 goals. Leeds United has only won 3 times, with 5 draws and 16 losses, and the goal difference is the opposite of Liverpool's. In addition, Liverpool has remained unbeaten in their last 6 away matches against Leeds United, keeping 4 clean sheets. It can be said that Liverpool has completely dominated in their head-to-head encounters.
In the first meeting this season, Leeds United unexpectedly defeated Liverpool 2-1 away, breaking Liverpool's unbeaten record and adding a glimmer of hope to their relegation battle. Can Leeds United create another miracle in this match?
Predicted lineups: Leeds United unchanged, Liverpool with multiple changes
For Leeds United, the team is not greatly affected by injuries, and head coach Marcelo Bielsa does not have much room for rotation. It is expected that the team will use the same starting lineup as the previous match. Striker Bamford is the team's top scorer, having scored 10 league goals this season, and he will be the main threat in the team's attack. Midfielders Dallas and Raphinha are also important pillars of the team, responsible for organization and connection. In the defense, Ayling and Koch will form the central defensive partnership, with Alioski and Adams on the wings. Meslier will be the goalkeeper guarding the goal.
For Liverpool, several key players are absent due to injuries, including defenders Van Dijk, Gomez, and Matip, as well as midfielders Henderson, Keita, and Milner. Manager Jurgen Klopp will also make appropriate rotations based on the opponent's strength, and it is expected that up to 6 players will be changed in the starting lineup. In the forward line, Jota and Salah will continue to play, while Minamino is expected to replace Firmino as the center forward. In the midfield, Fabinho will return to his best position as a defensive midfielder, and Elliott and Jones will play on the left and right wings respectively. In the defense, Konate and Van Dijk will form the central defensive partnership, with Alexander-Arnold and Simikas as the right-back and left-back respectively. Alisson will continue to be the last line of defense for the team.
Overall, Liverpool has the upper hand in terms of strength in this match, and they have enough confidence and ability to win three points away. However, football matches often have various surprises and changes, so we still hope that Leeds United can perform well at home and cause trouble for Liverpool. **So, Zhou Ge expects the number of goals to be no less than 3.
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