Liverpool are aiming to make it three Champions League victories on the bounce this Wednesday when they travel to RB Leipzig.
The Reds have made an exceptional start to the Arne Slot era and have won all but one of their opening 11 matches under the former Feyenoord head coach. Two of those victories have come in the Champions League against Italian opposition, with the Reds easing past AC Milan and Bologna to claim maximum points.
Liverpool’s impressive form hasn’t been limited to European competition, though. A testing 2-1 victory over a resurgent Chelsea side on Sunday secured their place at the top of the Premier League table for another week.
RB Leipzig’s early season run hasn’t been quite as eye-catching, although Marco Rose’s side do find themselves second in the Bundesliga and unbeaten domestically thus far. However, two defeats in the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid and Juventus have left them playing catch-up on the continent.
Here is 90min’s guide to an intriguing encounter in eastern Germany.
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RB Leipzig team news
RB Leipzig are without four players for the visit of the six-time Champions League and European Cup winners, with Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager and one-time Liverpool target Assan Ouedraogo missing in midfield. Amadou Haidara is also a doubt in the engine room after picking up a knock in the weekend win over Mainz.
David Raum will be unavailable at wing-back and was replaced by summer signing Antonio Nusa at the weekend. Lois Openda should shake off a minor injury sustained against Mainz to feature in the front line.
Despite never playing for the Reds, Peter Gulacsi is a former Liverpool goalkeeper and will guard the net. Playing in front of the Hungarian, Lutsharel Geertruida will reunite with Slot after they enjoyed an impressive spell at Feyenoord together.
RB Leipzig predicted lineup vs Liverpool
RB Leipzig predicted lineup vs Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Gulacsi; Klostermann, Orban, Lukeba; Geertruida, Kampl, Haidara, Nusa; Simons, Sesko; Openda.
Liverpool team news
Diogo Jota’s fitness issues have proven frustrating since his move to Anfield and the Portuguese is extremely unlikely to feature in Leipzig on Wednesday evening. He was withdrawn during the first half against Chelsea after tangling with Tosin Adarabioyo.
Alisson remains missing with a hamstring problem and will be replaced by Caoimhin Kelleher in Germany, while Harvey Elliott and Conor Bradley are also missing. Federico Chiesa has missed the last few weeks through injury and is unlikely to play against Leipzig.
Alexis Mac Allister was an injury doubt ahead of Sunday’s match with Chelsea but featured as a second-half substitute. Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez could also come into the starting lineup after only being utilised from the bench themselves.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs RB Leipzig (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez.
RB Leipzig vs Liverpool score prediction
Liverpool’s impressive start to the season will be of huge concern to Leipzig, who lost both of their previous meetings with the Reds 2-0 during the 2020/21 season. Slot’s side haven’t always found their best this term but have been relentless winners regardless.
Leipzig’s encouraging Bundesliga form hasn’t translated to the Champions League. Their usually solid defence has been picked apart by both Atletico and Juventus, with Liverpool’s electric front line likely to cause Rose’s men similar issues.
However, Leipzig do have a formidable attacking unit themselves that boasts the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons. They’re likely to unsettle Liverpool’s backline, but not enough to avoid defeat.
