LEEDS make their Premier League comeback after a 16-year absence with a visit to fellow champions Liverpool in a battle of two of football's most revered bosses.
While Marcleo Bielsa was guiding the Yorkshire club to Championship glory, Jurgen Klopp was ending Liverpool's three-decade wait for the Premier League title.
Now they go head to head in an intriguing curtain-raiser. Both sides play a fluid, high-energy, attacking style, and only the absence of fans from Anfield will dilute the excitment of this fixture.
Despite having romped to the title by 18 points last season, Liverpool find themselves 9-4 second favourites to be crowned champions again this term, with Man City odds on at 9-11.
Liverpool have opted not to bolster their squad from a position of strength – their only new signing is left-back Konstantinos Tsimikas in an £11.7m deal from Olympiakos – while Leeds have added the likes of £27m striker Rodrigo Moreno from Valencia and Germany centre-back Robin Koch from Freiburg.
Moreno is expected to be handed a debut and lead the line as Leeds look to spring an opening-day surprise with a first win at Anfield since 2001.
How do the bookies view it?
Liverpool's home form last season was near perfect – a 1-1 draw with Burnley the only slip-up that denied them a 100% record – and they have won 25 of the last 26 league matches on their own patch.
To extend that sequence, Kloop's side are 3-10 at Paddy Power, while Leeds are 19-2 at Unibet to make a winning return to the top flight, and the draw is 11-2 at the same bookie.
Betting angles
It would be a stretch to say Leeds look on for three points, but they can certainly mark their return to the big time with a goal.
Having ended the Championship with six wins on the bounce, Bielsea's side possess plenty of flair and attacking nous not to mention bags of energy.
They will also bring an element of the unknown, and the 19-20 at bet365 for both teams to score looks a decent price.
Still, Liverpool will be keen to lay down an early marker in their title defence, and can see off Bielsa's upstarts.
The Reds averaged 7.5 corners per match at home last term, so go for over 5 as the starting point of a bet365 Bet Builder. Add a Liverpool win and over 1 goal for a bet that should land at 21-20.
Liverpool striker Mo Salah loves an opening-day goal, having scored on this occasion three years in succession since arriving from Roma. Back Salah at 16-5 with Unibet to break the deadlock in this one.
This English Premier League match between Liverpool and Leeds United will be played on Sep 12, 2020 and kick off at 17:30. Check below for our tipsters best Liverpool vs Leeds United prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
