Liverpool
HUGE BLOW : 5 players could miss Leeds United vs Liverpool
Up to five players from both Leeds United and Liverpool could miss the Saturday evening clash at Elland Road this weekend.
ππππ ππππππ₯π₯ ππππ ππ
Two managers facing intense scrutiny go head-to-head at Elland Road on Saturday evening when Leeds United host Liverpool in a Premier League clash that carries significant weight for both dugouts.
Daniel Farkeβs position at Leeds has been under severe threat after the club plunged into the relegation zone following a run of six defeats in seven top-flight matches.
Liverpool FC squad are put through their paces in training
Liverpool FC players are put through strength and conditioning work during training
Senior figures at Elland Road had reportedly begun exploring potential replacements, with Gary OβNeil emerging as a candidate should results not improve.
However, a stunning 3-1 victory over Chelsea in midweek has bought the German some breathing room, though the pressure is far from lifted with Liverpool now arriving in West Yorkshire.β
For Arne Slot, the situation is equally precarious. The Dutchman has overseen just four wins from Liverpoolβs last 14 matches across all competitions, with a 1-1 draw against Sunderland on Wednesday adding further frustration.
Luckily for both managers, there are not too many injury concerns for their respective teams:
Daniel James
The Welsh winger is facing a minimum of eight weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a hamstring tendon injury during the defeat to Manchester City.
Surgery remains a possibility, which could extend his absence even further, ruling him out for the entire festive period and beyond.β
Sean Longstaff
A significant miss for Leeds, Longstaff has been one of the standout performers since his Β£12 million summer move from Newcastle, contributing goals and assists while becoming a key creative force in midfield.
A calf injury sustained in the loss to Aston Villa will keep him out for four to six weeks, meaning he is definitely unavailable for the Liverpool clash and could miss up to nine Premier League matches.β
Giovanni Leoni
The teenage Italian centre-back suffered a devastating ACL tear on his Liverpool debut against Southampton in September and underwent successful surgery shortly after. He is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Jeremie Frimpong
The summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen continues his recovery from a hamstring injury sustained in Octoberβs Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Frimpong has returned to outdoor training but is not expected to feature until at least mid-December, meaning he will miss the Leeds trip.
Conor Bradley
There is cautious optimism surrounding the Northern Ireland international, who returned to modified team training on Monday after missing the last three matches with a muscle injury.
Slot has expressed hope that Bradley could be available for the trip to Elland Road, though he stressed the need to manage his workload carefully and not rush his return.
Liverpool
Yes β there are reports linking Liverpool with Sven Botman as a possible summer transfer target, particularly if they need replacements in central defence. Hereβs the latest news
π΄ Liverpool & Botman Link
Liverpool are said to be considering a bid for Newcastle United defender Sven Botman ahead of the summer 2026 transfer window. The idea being mooted in some outlets is that Botman could add experience and help mentor younger defenders (e.g., Jeremy Jacquet) if he were to move to Anfield. οΏ½
TEAMtalk +1
Liverpoolβs interest appears to be part of a broader plan to strengthen centre-back options, especially with Ibrahima KonatΓ©βs contract situation unresolved and the potential of him leaving as a free agent. οΏ½
Yardbarker +1
π KonatΓ© & Defensive Plans
Ibrahima KonatΓ©βs contract at Liverpool is due to expire this summer, and while there have been negotiations, no new deal has been agreed yet β meaning he could leave on a free transfer if he doesnβt sign an extension. οΏ½
Anfield Watch
This has increased the likelihood that Liverpool must plan for defensive reinforcements β something that could put Botman on their radar along with other centre-back targets. οΏ½
Yardbarker
π Newcastleβs Position
Botman recently signed a new long-term contract with Newcastle until 2030, which could make a move more expensive or complicated. οΏ½
Yahoo Sports
Still, reports suggest that Newcastle might struggle to keep players or resist offers if they fail to qualify for the Champions League, as missing out on European football often influences player decisions and club finances. οΏ½
Sports Boom
π° Conflicting Coverage
Some outlets recently claimed that Liverpoolβs interest has cooled, and the club may prioritise other defensive targets instead. οΏ½
Sports Mole
However, others still list Botman among players Liverpool are monitoring ahead of next summer. οΏ½
Sports Boom
π§ Bottom Line
βοΈ Botman remains a possible summer target for Liverpool if KonatΓ© leaves.
βοΈ Newcastleβs Champions League qualification (or lack thereof) could impact whether theyβre willing to sell or if Botman himself is open to departing.
βοΈ His recent contract extension complicates a move, but it doesnβt rule out a transfer if a suitable offer arrives.
Would you like a projected likelihood analysis based on his contract + Newcastleβs season performance?
Liverpool
HOW ARE LIVERPOOL NOT WINNING THIS GAME…. Florian Wirtz’s shot is tame and Guehi blocks it out for a corner kick
HOW are Liverpool not ahead here?! π€
That moment summed it all up.
The Wirtz chance β what actually went wrong
Florian Wirtz did everything right up to the final action. The space opened on the edge of the box, Liverpool moved the ball quickly, and the shooting lane was there. But the finish? Way too tame.
Instead of whipping it across the keeper or drilling it low into the corner, Wirtz opts for placement without power. At this level, thatβs basically an invitation for defenders to recover.
Credit where itβs due: Guehi π
Marc Guehi reads it early.
He doesnβt dive in
He holds his line
He closes the angle
By the time Wirtz shoots, Guehi is already set, making himself big and getting the block in. Itβs excellent defending, but it only becomes possible because the shot lacks conviction.
The bigger Liverpool problem
This isnβt an isolated incident β itβs a pattern in the game:
Dominance without ruthlessness
Good build-up, poor end product
Too many extra touches in the box
Liverpool are getting into the right areas but playing like a team waiting for the perfect goal instead of forcing the issue.
Why Liverpool arenβt winning (yet)
No killer instinct in front of goal
Shots either blocked or too close to defenders
Final decisions a half-second late
Opposition defenders growing in confidence with every missed chance
Corner kick or not, that shouldβve tested the keeper far more.
If this keeps up, itβs the kind of game where Liverpool dominate the statsβ¦ and still drop points. One moment of real quality β or one defensive mistake β is all thatβs missing.
Football can be cruel like that. π¬β½
Want this turned into a match report or live commentary-style thread?
Liverpool
The contract and paperwork are already in place for Liverpool to welcome back Jarell Quansah, who left Merseyside to join Bayer Leverkusen last summer, to help fill out the Redsβ thin defensive ranks
Yes β that claim lines up with multiple transfer-news reports: Liverpool could re-sign 23-year-old England centre-back Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen in future, thanks to a buy-back clause in the deal that sent him to Germany β but not immediately next season.
π Whatβs Happening with Quansah and Liverpool
Quansah moved from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for a reported fee around Β£30m-Β£35m (plus add-ons), joining the Bundesliga side on a long-term contract.
As part of that transfer, Liverpool inserted a buy-back clause allowing the club to re-sign him in the future for a pre-agreed fee.
footballtransfers.com
However, the clause cannot be activated until the summer of 2027 at the earliest.
TEAM
Reports suggest the buy-back figure could be around Β£50m-Β£60m (with potential add-ons increasing the fee), although exact numbers vary across sources.
Sports Mole +1
There are also indications Liverpool have pre-agreed personal terms with Quansah should they trigger the buy-back, smoothing the path for a return.
TEAMtalk
π§ Context for the Move
Quansah was a Liverpool academy graduate and made senior appearances before leaving, but opted for more first-team football in Germany.
Football Today
With his development in the Bundesliga and Liverpoolβs evolving defensive needs, the idea of bringing him back β especially given future departures or ageing defenders β is being discussed in transfer circles.
TEAMtalk
Bottom line: the Football Insider claim that Liverpool could re-sign Quansah later isnβt unfounded β there is a buy-back clause β but any switch is realistically targeted for 2027 or beyond, not next summer.
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