Klopp warns Liverpool: If you don't compete, Leeds can eat you

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned his players they must be ready for a fight when they take on struggling Leeds United at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Klopp's side head into the fixture - rearranged after Leeds asked for the Boxing Day clash to be postponed due to a Covid outbreak - six points behind leaders Manchester City after the weekend results, albeit with this their game in hand on the champions.

However, despite Leeds languishing down in 15th place, five points above the relegation zone after Sunday's 4-2 home loss to rivals Manchester United, the German has predicted a battle against Marcelo Bielsa's team.

"Leeds man-mark all over the pitch so if you are not in the game then Leeds will eat you," said Klopp in his pre-match press conference.

"They are leading in three decisive running Premier League stats. You have to be ready for these runs and they never give up on top of that. Some spectacular results in both directions.

"Leeds fight to stay in this league and they really never give up, so we have to make sure we cannot help tomorrow. We have a lot of work to do.

"I hope that we, as a unit with our supporters, are difficult to beat. If we are, we have a chance to win. We need to make sure we are really on it to give everything. If we're not ready for a fight, we will suffer."

As for the title race, Klopp revealed he found out about City's 3-2 home defeat to Tottenham on his way home from Anfield after his side's 3-1 win over Norwich City on Saturday night.

"The truth, I was on my way home at 2-1 Spurs then I arrived at home and didn't follow it," he said.

"I was sure City would equalise. We went out and the driver was very excited, 2-2 then 3-2, he told me Spurs had won. 'Oh!' was my reaction. Nothing