Whites boss Jesse Marsch made six changes to his team for last weekend’s home clash against Fulham as Luke Ayling, captain Liam Cooper, Sam Greenwood, Jack Harrison, Rodrigo and the fit-again Pascal Struijk all started. Rasmus Kristensen, Diego Llorente, Junior Firpo, Crysencio Summerville and Patrick Bamford all dropped to the bench whilst Tyler Adams missed out altogether with a calf injury.
Marsch’s side then fell to a 3-2 defeat which marked a fourth loss in succession and a sixth defeat from United’s last eight games which have yielded just two points. The Whites boss then provided a rather brutal injuries update at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, at which he revealed that there were doubts about Luis Sinisterra, Rodrigo, Cooper, Adams and Joe Gelhardt for Saturday’s clash at Anfield. Adam Forshaw and longer-term absentee Stuart Dallas also remain sidelined whilst there are question marks about Leo Hjelde meaning Marsch has eight injuries to contend with. After Marsch’s updates, this is the Whites XI that we think will step out against the Reds.
. GK - Illan Meslier
At least he's not injured. Miles clear as United's first choice keeper and the Iceman is all set to continue an amazing run of starting every single Leeds league game since the start of last season. Saturday will be 50 in a row. Photo: George Wood
. RB - Luke Ayling
Marsch made a big call in preferring Ayling to Rasmus Kristensen at right back against Fulham and it's hard to know what the American will opt for this time around. At the risk of making too many changes, he might keep the right side of defence as it is with one of his natural established leaders in Ayling. Photo: George Wood
. CB - Robin Koch
Koch has started all 11 of United's league games so far this season and the German international has been ever-present apart from being hooked at half-time at Leicester. All set for another start at the heart of the defence, it's probably just a question of who partners him. Photo: Stu Forster
. CB - Diego Llorente
Llorente dropped to the bench for last weekend's Fulham clash but if Cooper doesn't make it then it will be either Llorente or Pascal Struijk alongside Robin Koch at centre-back. Struijk has been decent at left back and whilst Junior Firpo could always return there, Struijk at left back and Llorente at centre-back looks most likely if Cooper misses out. Photo: Alex Pantling
7. CM - Mateusz Klich
Marsch admitted that Leeds particularly missed Adams against Fulham and the Whites boss will be keeping everything crossed that the USA international star is fit enough to face Liverpool. Sam Greenwood took the place of Adams against Fulham and might well get the nod again if Adams is forced to miss out but the experienced Mateusz Klich is the obvious alternative in a deeper position than the roles he has been fulfilling off the bench of late. Perhaps now is the time when the Pole finally gets a first league start of the season. Photo: Michael Regan
8. RW - Crysencio Summerville
Marsch has continually raved about 20-year-old Dutch winger Summerville and a second league start of the season looks imminent if the likes of Sinisterra, Rodrigo and Gelhardt are ruled out, somewhat limiting Marsch's attacking options. Photo: Stu Forster
9. LW - Jack Harrison
Harrison was back in the side against Fulham having been dropped for the Leicester defeat and he looks pretty sure to stay in the side given the doubts about the other forward players although Wily Gnonto in particular is a live shout for minutes out wide. Photo: George Wood
10. ACM - Brenden Aaronson
Rodrigo and Gelhardt would be the other two leading options as one of the positions in United's front two but both are injury doubts. As such, Aaronson looks set for another outing at no 10 as opposed to playing out wide. Photo: George Wood
11. ST - Patrick Bamford
It's just not happening for Bamford at the moment and the calls to continue to grow to offer minutes to youngsters such as Willy Gnonto, Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins in addition to the more established young star Joe Gelhardt who himself is not getting much of a look in. But Gelhardt and chief alternative striker option Rodrigo are both injury doubts and Bamford looks very likely to bag another start in his search for a first goal of the season and first of the calendar year. Photo: Eddie Keogh