Daniel Farke takes his Leeds side to Anfield on New Year’s Day – looking to stretch the unbeaten run to six games.
Leeds only recently held Liverpool to a 3-3 draw at Elland Road, and have the chance to move nine points clear of the relegation zone if they can go one better and defeat the Reds at Anfield.
When asked what he expects from Leeds on Merseyside, Arne Slot delivered an interesting response which gives Daniel Farke plenty to think about.
Arne Slot praises Anton Stach and sends message to Daniel Farke ahead of Leeds United clash
The Dutchman praised Anton Stach for scoring a “really good goal” in the 3-3 draw at Elland Road.
However, Slot also told Farke that he knows Leeds only started to improve after the German reverted to a back four during that 3-3 draw, having started with a 3-5-2 formation.
How would you line-up at Liverpool without Joe Rodon? 🤕
Would you stick with 3-5-2 or switch formation?
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The Yorkshire Post quote the 47-year-old as saying: “Yes, I could but I don’t prefer to cope with another day like that, but it’s part of our lives in football. We have highs and lows, so we have to accept that.
“What I mainly took and take from it is that we struggled a lot, or much more, when they went to a four, when they started to play 4-3-3 in the last 20 minutes of the game. That’s also when they scored their goals. Okay, the first one was another VAR intervention, but the second one (Stach goal) was a really good goal from them. The third one was a set-piece, but we struggled more when they played with four than when they played with five. I will definitely look at both, but especially the moment when they went to a four at the back.”
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It leaves Farke with a decision to make over whether to start with the 4-3-3 formation or not, considering Slot is clearly aware of the fact this shape worked better against his side and may therefore be prepared to thwart it this time around.
Leeds began the 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Sunday using the 3-5-2 formation, but reverted to the 4-3-3 system after Joe Rodon was forced off with damaged ankle ligaments.
Joe Rodon during Sunderland v Leeds United - Premier League
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
That in itself poses a headache for Slot, as Leeds did well using a 3-5-2 and almost scored as Brenden Aaronson saw a shot cleared off the line, but performed even better with the 4-3-3 as Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his seventh goal in just six games.
Therefore, the Liverpool boss has surely struggled to prepare his Liverpool side accordingly at the AXA Training Centre this week, given how unpredictable Farke has made Leeds.
Daniel Farke must have confused Arne Slot even more with James Justin hint
Farke has a ready-made replacement for Rodon in central defence in Sebastiaan Bornauw, but threw Slot a curveball by suggesting two other unorthodox options when asked how he plans to cope without the Wales international.
Should Leeds sign a replacement for Joe Rodon or finally hand Sebastiaan Bornauw a chance? 🤔
The Belgian has played just two minutes of Premier League football since his £5.1m move from VfL Wolfsburg in July… 😬
Sebastiaan Bornauw on the bench for Belgium
Photo by Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Farke hinted James Justin could actually be used as a centre-back despite being a full-back by trade, adding that Sam Byram may also be called upon too despite playing just seven minutes of Premier League football this season.
The 49-year-old said: “Of course I would prefer to have him available… (but) we have other players who could also play in this position.
“Sebastiaan Bornauw is one of them. Sam Byram is a player who has played centre-back. James Justin can play in the back three, so I still think we have enough options.”
It has surely left Slot scratching his head ahead of Leeds arriving at Anfield, and having only narrowly scraped a 2-1 win over Wolves last time out, Liverpool fans have every right to be worried.
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