RB Leipzig vs. Liverpool: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Despite their strong start to the domestic season, Leipzig have looked vulnerable in this competition and it feels as though Liverpool will be very well positioned to take advantage of that, particularly their high-pressing style that will leave space for Liverpool's quick transitions.

Liverpool now have seven wins in a row in all competitions and have conceded only five goals in their last ten games, making them ruthless operators at both ends of the pitch.

They've won both of their head-to-head meetings with Leipzig and have a very good record against German sides in Europe, so another three points here looks firmly on the cards for Arne Slot's men. Leipzig 1-3 Liverpool.

The upcoming Champions League clash between RB Leipzig and Liverpool should be an intriguing encounter, with both teams heading into the game with contrasting fortunes in Europe so far.

• Date: 23/10/2024
• Kick-off time: 20:00
• Location: Red Bull Arena, Leipzig

Leipzig have endured a tough start to this season's competition, with two losses in their first two games having left them with a lot of work to do. While it’s still early days in the group stage, the German side will be aware that qualification to the next round will be very competitive, and considering these results come in stark contrast to their excellent domestic form, where they sit second in the Bundesliga, level on points with perennial champions Bayern Munich, they'll feel as through they need to pull their trousers up.

Rose’s Leipzig are a team full of attacking talent, and utilising this firepower will be essential if they want to compete with the elite sides in the Champions League. Belgian striker Loïs Openda has made an impressive start to the season, scoring four goals in the Bundesliga, while Slovenian forward Benjamin Šeško has also contributed with two goals and two assists. Both players have proven to be effective options for Leipzig, and their ability to stretch defences with pace and movement is very tough for opposition defences to deal with.

Perhaps the most exciting player in Leipzig’s ranks is 20-year-old Dutch attacking midfielder Xavi Simons, who is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in Europe, and has been a standout performer for Leipzig since his arrival on loan from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. With creativity, athleticism and dribbling ability, Simons truly is the full package and he looks like a player who will enjoy a long career at one of Europe's elite clubs.

Liverpool’s return to the Champions League after a one-year absence has gone as well as they could have hoped, with two wins from two games having placed them in a strong position to progress from the group. Their overall form under new manager Arne Slot has been very encouraging, with Liverpool playing a more controlled style of football that has thus far translated well from the Premier League to European competition.

After missing out on the Champions League last season, Liverpool will be motivated to make a deep run in this year’s tournament, as a club with such a storied history in Europe will feel as though they should be perennially successful in this competition and they now have lost time to make up for.

Two of Liverpool’s senior players, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, have been instrumental in their success this season. Both 33 years old, Salah and Van Dijk continue to perform at an exceptionally high level despite their advancing years. Salah, as ever, remains Liverpool’s talisman in attack, with the Egyptian forward’s finishing ability and creativity being pivotal in both the Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

Van Dijk, meanwhile, anchors the Liverpool defence with his commanding presence and leadership, with the Dutch centre-back having rediscovered his best form after a dip in recent seasons and will be crucial in marshalling Liverpool’s backline against Leipzig’s attacking threats.

For what it's worth, Liverpool have a strong record when facing teams from the Bundesliga, winning 23 of 42 head-to-head encounters in Europe, losing only 13. Included in that record are two victories over Leipzig in the 2020-21 Champions League campaign when Liverpool won both legs 2-0. Granted, things have changed since those days, but there are still plenty of parallels that can be drawn between the two sides four years down the line so it'll no doubt be an added confidence booster for the visiting Reds.

This game will be televised live to UK viewers on TNT Sports 1.

RB Leipzig Team News:

RB Leipzig will once again be without David Raum, Assan Ouedraogo and Xaver Schlager, all of whom remain out injured.

Following a comfortable win at the weekend, Marco Rose could name the same starting XI for the second week running.

Predicted lineup: Gulácsi; Klostermann, Orbán, Lukeba; Geertruida, Vermeeren, Haidara, Nusa; Simons; Šeško; Openda.

Liverpool Team News:

Liverpool will once again be without the injured trio of Alisson, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa, while Diogo Jota is a doubt after coming off the pitch injured at the weekend.

Curtis Jones will hope to keep his place in the starting XI after an impressive performance at the weekend, as he battles it out with Alexis Mac Allister to start in midfield.

Predicted lineup: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Núñez, Díaz.

Leipzig's form is strong heading into this game, with the club from Eastern Germany having lost only one of their last five games. At the weekend, Leipzig took on Mainz away from home and ran out comfortable 2-0 winners. Marco Rose's side took an early 2-0 lead through Xavi Simons and Willi Orbán and from there they saw out the win in a professional manner.

That result followed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Heidenheim, where a second-half goal from Loïs Openda proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Before that, Leipzig lost 2-3 to Juventus in the Champions League in what was a very frustrating defeat. With the scores level at 1-1, Juventus were reduced to ten men, and despite Leipzig subsequently taking a 2-1 lead, Juventus went on to win the game 3-2 with an 82nd-minute winner from Dušan Vlahović.

Prior to that, RB Leipzig beat Augsburg 4-0 and drew 0-0 with St. Pauli.

At the weekend, Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners in a big game against Chelsea. In what was an even contest, Liverpool took the lead through a Mohamed Salah penalty, and despite Nicolas Jackson equalising early in the second half, Arne Slots men responded immediately through a goal from Curtis Jones to seal the points.

Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in what was a game where the scoreline did not give a true reflection of the game, where Liverpool dominated the play despite Diogo Jota's goal being all they had to show for it.

That result was preceded by a 2-0 win over Bologna in the Champions League where Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah provided the goods to secure a big three points.

Prior to that, Liverpool beat Wolves 2-1 thanks to Ibrahima Konaté and Salah, a result that followed a 5-1 win over West Ham United in the EFL Cup.

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