Liverpool have "nothing to lose" as they look to end a dire run of form against Premier League strugglers Leeds United at Elland Road, so says Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds travel to Yorkshire having gone five games without a win across all competitions (D2 L3), a run which saw Klopp's men begin the weekend 12 points adrift of the top four.
Green shoots of recovery were visible as Liverpool fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a draw against leaders Arsenal last time out, but Klopp knows the Reds must make changes to get back to their best.
"We have nothing to lose really. We are in a position where we don't want to be in the table, that means we have to act a little bit like this," he said.
"We had a long training week and now we have to make sure that we do the right stuff and bring it on the pitch. All the things are on the table, everything is clear.
"Our home record is not as bad as the away record but we play away. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the game and it's a tough one."
Leeds looked to be pulling clear of danger prior to last week's 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace, when Javi Gracia's side capitulated after Patrick Bamford gave them a first-half lead.
"We know how difficult it will be, the next game against Liverpool," Gracia said.
"They are a very good team. In this moment we have no time to think about whether it is better or worse to play against this team or another.
"What I can tell you is that all of the players have worked hard this week and tried to pay attention to the little details.
"They worked very well this week and I am sure we will learn from our mistakes."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Leeds United – Patrick Bamford
Bamford scored his 50th goal for Leeds in all competitions during last week's 5-1 defeat to Palace, becoming the first player to hit that figure for the club since Ross McCormack in 2014.
He is looking to score in consecutive Premier League appearances for the first time since May 2021 as Leeds bid to pull away from the relegation zone.
Liverpool – Roberto Firmino
Having netted Liverpool's equaliser against Arsenal last time out, Firmino has averaged a goal or assist every 87 minutes in the Premier League this season (nine goals, four assists in 1,129 minutes).
Of all players to play at least 500 minutes in the competition this term, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland (one every 62 mins) boasts a better such ratio.
MATCH PREDICTION – LIVERPOOL WIN
After claiming a memorable 2-1 win at Anfield in October, Leeds are chasing just their second Premier League double over Liverpool, previously achieving that feat in the 2000-01 campaign under David O'Leary.
While Liverpool are averaging just 0.87 points-per-game away from home in the Premier League this season – their lowest in a single campaign since 1992-93 (0.76) – the Reds have not lost on any of their last five league trips to Elland Road (W3 D2), last tasting defeat there in November 2000.
Leeds will have to tighten up to have any chance of a result, having shipped 10 goals in their three league games in April – the most in the top flight – and kept just five clean sheets in their last 35 league matches.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Leeds United – 15.9 per cent
Liverpool – 61.2 per cent
Draw – 22.9 per cent
Hayes concedes title race is over as Chelsea suffer dramatic Liverpool defeat
It has been a difficult week for Chelsea and their boss Emma Hayes.
After seeing their Champions League dreams dashed by holders Barcelona on Saturday, they had no margin for error when they travelled to Liverpool in the Women's Super League on Wednesday.
Six points behind Manchester City with two games in hand but an inferior goal difference, the Blues needed three points to stop Hayes' final season in charge from totalling unravelling.
But there was to be no respite for the Blues, who were at one point tipped for a quadruple but have been stuck in a downward spiral since losing Sam Kerr to an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the winter break.
Matt Beard's Liverpool put on a tremendous display to win 4-3, with Gemma Bonner scoring a stoppage-time equaliser to leave Hayes certain the title is out of reach.
"I think the title is done," she said after Wednesday's game.
"Of course mathematically it's not, but I think the title is done. Our job between now and the end of the season is to keep pushing until the end, but I think it will be very difficult.
"This team has done a tremendous job in my time here to push for titles.
"I don’t know if we have ever conceded four goals in a half before. Three from set pieces is just unforgivable. But I'm going to credit Liverpool."
Chelsea now need an almighty collapse from City, who may only require three points from their remaining two matches to seal the title, if their goal difference advantage holds firm.
Hayes believes fighting on multiple fronts has not helped her team, adding: "We looked exhausted but I don't want to make excuses.
"I want to remind our fans how much success we have brought over the years. It's just not to be this year."
Next up, Chelsea face relegated Bristol City in their final home game before Hayes departs to take the United States job, with City taking on Arsenal in Sunday's headline fixture.
Sancho outshines Mbappe as Dortmund seize initiative against PSG
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho issued a reminder of his star quality as Borussia Dortmund beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Wednesday.
Niclas Fullkrug scored the winner after 36 minutes, taking in Nico Schlotterbeck's floated pass before driving a low shot beyond PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Fullkrug has now been involved in six Champions League goals this season (three goals, three assists), the joint-most by a German player in their debut campaign in the competition, alongside BVB team-mate Marco Reus in 2012-13 (four goals, two assists).
The star of the show, however, was undoubtedly Sancho.
He tormented Nuno Mendes throughout a lively performance, creating three chances for his team-mates – a game-high tally alongside Julian Brandt, Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi.
Sancho had completed seven dribbles by the halfway point, more than he managed in any full game for the Red Devils.
By full-time, that number had crept up to 12, the most by any player in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi completed 16 for Barcelona against United in April 2008, and the most on record by an Englishman at any stage of the competition (since 2003-04).
Sancho even outshone Mbappe, who struck the far post with a curling effort early in the second half but was limited to just three shots totalling 0.17 expected goals (xG).
PSG did have their chances, though, with their total of 14 shots their most without scoring in any Champions League game since the second leg of their 2020-21 semi-final against Manchester City (also 14), when they were beaten 2-0 and eliminated from the competition.
Dortmund are now unbeaten in 11 straight Champions League home games, winning seven and drawing four.
It's their longest ever such streak at Signal Iduna Park, and they have also won four straight knockout games on their own turf for the first time in their Champions League history.
While Dortmund have a valuable lead to protect in Paris next Tuesday, Edin Terzic will be expecting a strong reaction from PSG.
The Ligue 1 champions have progressed from two of their last four Champions League knockout ties when losing the first leg, with the first of those successes coming against Dortmund in the last 16 in 2019-20 (1-2 away, 2-0 at home).
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain: Fullkrug hands hosts first-leg win
Niclas Fullkrug fired home a first-half winner as Borussia Dortmund claimed a 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie in Germany.
Nico Schlotterbeck floated a pass into Fullkrug's path and the Germany international brought the ball under his spell with a wonderful touch before drilling a low shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 36th minute.
PSG, on the back foot for much of the first half, improved after the break and struck the woodwork twice in a matter of moments just after the restart.
Kylian Mbappe curled an effort against the right-hand post before Achraf Hakimi scuffed a shot against the other upright on the rebound as Edin Terzic's side escaped with a first-leg lead.
The teams will meet again at the Parc des Princes next Tuesday, with the winners of the tie facing either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid – who drew 2-2 in their first leg on Tuesday – in the final at Wembley Stadium.
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