Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has played down the significance of Mohamed Salah’s absence ahead of his side’s Premier League clash against Liverpool, insisting the Reds remain a formidable force regardless of personnel changes.
Leeds are set to travel to Anfield on Thursday for their Matchday 19 encounter, with Farke acknowledging the difficulty of facing a Liverpool side enjoying an impressive run under head coach Arne Slot. Despite Leeds hoping to spring a surprise, the German tactician believes the timing of the fixture poses a serious challenge.
“No, I don’t think it’s the right time to face Liverpool, because when I look at the team’s lineup and the players in the attacking positions, I fear the worst,” Farke said during his pre-match press conference.
The Leeds boss was full of praise for Liverpool’s attacking options, singling out Florian Wirtz for special mention.
“They have Ekteke, whom I also know from Germany, and his start with Liverpool has been impressive. He is at the top of his game. Florian Wirtz is a player with enormous potential. I think his cost alone exceeds what we spent all summer on all our deals,” he said.
Farke stressed that Liverpool’s attacking depth means the absence of one or two players would not significantly weaken the team.
“We don’t need to talk about the other attacking options available. Sometimes it is beneficial not to have many options and competition, as this boosts the confidence of the attacking players. If one or two players are unavailable, I don’t think it will affect Liverpool’s quality. They’ve almost returned to the top spots in the league. We don’t need to talk about their potential or individual quality.”
Reflecting on Liverpool’s dominance in recent seasons, Farke underlined the scale of the task facing his side.
“They dominated the league last season in a way that is rare, as no other team has done in previous years. They are the defending champions and have a chance to return to compete for the title. Their performance has been outstanding and their results in recent weeks have been impressive.”
Despite his admiration for the opposition, Farke made it clear Leeds will not be overawed by the occasion.
“Under these circumstances, at this moment, going to Anfield on New Year’s Day is one of the most difficult and challenging tasks. We have the utmost respect for them and are fully aware of their strengths, but we fear nothing. We know that if we put on a great performance, we will have a chance to win,” Farke added.
