Exclusive. Sources close to Liverpool's dressing room confirm morale has reached its lowest point since Arne Slot's summer arrival. The 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday, described by Jamie Carragher as really worrying, represented more than dropped points. It exposed a champion side sleepwalking through their title defence.
The numbers are damning. Four wins from 14 Premier League matches. Six defeats already this campaign. Eighth place, 11 points behind leaders Arsenal. Liverpool's previous seven away defeats had been spread across 45 matches between January 2023 and February 2025. They have now lost seven of their last 11 on the road.
Saturday's trip to Elland Road could scarcely arrive at a worse moment.
Leeds smell opportunity
Daniel Farke's men are wounded animals fighting for survival, but Wednesday's 3-1 demolition of Chelsea injected belief into a squad that had forgotten how to win. Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin all found the net as the Whites pinned Enzo Maresca's side back for long stretches, their low block and direct long balls causing chaos.
That victory, their first in five matches, lifted Leeds two points clear of the relegation zone. More importantly, it reminded Elland Road of its power. The atmosphere under the floodlights was ferocious, the kind of hostility that can destabilise even the most composed opposition.
Liverpool, right now, are anything but composed.
The Salah question
Mohamed Salah has been benched for Liverpool's last two outings, coming on at half-time against Sunderland to inject some attacking impetus. The Egyptian remains the Reds' most creative player with 28 chances crafted this season, but Slot's rotation policy has raised eyebrows.
With the Africa Cup of Nations approaching, Slot has just three more matches to utilise Salah before he departs for international duty on December 15. The 33-year-old has scored nine goals in just six Premier League appearances against Leeds, with only Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry netting more frequently against the Whites.
The understanding is Salah starts at Elland Road. Liverpool cannot afford to leave their best player on the bench against a side whose confidence has been transformed.
Historical weight
Leeds have won just one of their last 16 Premier League matches against reigning champions, a 3-2 victory at Arsenal in May 2003. At home, that record extends to eight winless encounters since defeating the Gunners 1-0 in May 1999. Yet the last time the Whites won consecutive top-flight matches was October-November 2022, one of which came against Liverpool.
The visitors remain unbeaten in their last six league visits to Elland Road, their most recent trip yielding a 6-1 thrashing in April 2023. Liverpool's last two victories over Leeds came by 6-0 and 6-1 scorelines.
Those margins feel irrelevant now. This Liverpool side bears no resemblance to the machine that swept aside all before them en route to last season's title. This Liverpool side can be beaten by anyone, anywhere.
Slot under pressure
The Dutchman inherited a squad primed for success and has presided over its disintegration. Three successive matches without a win at Anfield for the first time since March 2021. A defence that has shipped 21 goals in 14 league matches. A record signing in Alexander Isak who has failed to justify his Premier League-record fee.
Sources indicate the Liverpool hierarchy remain supportive, but patience is not infinite. The festive schedule offers no respite, and defeats are accumulating faster than explanations.
Kick-off at 17:30 UTC. Elland Road awaits.
