Liverpool visit Leeds United on Saturday looking to reassert control over a season that continues to drift away from the standards expected of Premier League champions.
Their midweek draw with Sunderland, rescued by a late own goal, reinforced the impression that they lack the sharpness and certainty that defined them last season.
They remain in the top half of the table, but the distance between their results and their ambitions has grown with every dropped point, and the danger of slipping from relevance is no longer hypothetical.
The Sunderland match highlighted an ongoing problem rather than an isolated lapse. Liverpool controlled large spells of the ball but offered limited threat.
Sunderland were compact, committed and almost rewarded for their patience, and the home crowd’s relief at full-time did not disguise the underlying concern.
Leeds approach this game with renewed optimism after beating Chelsea 3-1 on Wednesday, a result that ended their four-match losing streak.
Daniel Farke’s team were aggressive and direct from the outset, scoring through Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
They exposed Chelsea’s hesitancy with a level of urgency that supporters had been demanding.
Leeds will view Liverpool as a vulnerable opponent rather than an intimidating one.
Elland Road has historically been a difficult venue for visiting teams, and Leeds have shown that they can play the occasion as effectively as the opposition.
If they replicate the intensity produced against Chelsea, Liverpool will need a level of clarity and composure that has been missing in recent weeks.
Liverpool have been hesitant in key moments, choosing safety over incision, and that cautious edge has encouraged opponents to push higher up the pitch.
If they fail to establish tempo early on, Leeds will attempt to turn the match into a chaotic contest decided by transitions and crowd pressure.
