Predicted XI, Injury News & How to Watch

Liverpool’s first sport of 2026 comes at residence to Leeds on New Yr’s Day, with either side unbeaten in no less than their final 5 matches.

Liverpool vs. Leeds

Premier League (19) | AnfieldJanuary 1, 5.30pm (GMT)

The Reds ended 2025 with a 2-1 win in opposition to Wolves at Anfield, placing them fourth within the Premier League desk.

Subsequent up is the New Yr’s Day go to of Leeds, which must be seen as one other good likelihood of three factors for Liverpool.

Right here’s all it is advisable to know forward of the sport because the Premier League season reaches its halfway level.

1. The beginning of a memorable 2026 for Liverpool?

The brand new yr all the time brings motive for optimism, with Liverpool followers optimistically dreaming of trophies coming their means in 2026.

Granted, this has been a disappointing season up to now, however that is nonetheless a very good squad able to going far in cup competitions.

The Premier League title feels extremely unlikely, however victory at residence to Leeds would sustain Liverpool’s latest momentum and put the Reds 5 away from fifth-place Chelsea.

Champions League glory in Budapest in Could needs to be the goal!

2. Leeds on a very good run of their very own

Liverpool might not have suffered defeat in seven matches, however Leeds are additionally in a very good place.

Daniel Farke’s facet are unbeaten of their final 5 Premier League outings, together with the 3-3 draw with the Reds at Elland Highway in early December.

A 4-1 thumping of Crystal Palace was Leeds‘ most spectacular consequence on this present run; they’re fifteenth within the desk, seven factors away from the relegation zone.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored in every of the final six matches, netting seven instances, so he will probably be a risk to Liverpool’s defence.

3. Liverpool workforce information

Fortunately, no new accidents emerged for Liverpool in opposition to Wolves, however there are nonetheless various absentees.

Alexander Isak possible received’t be again till the spring, becoming a member of Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni, Wataru Endo and Jayden Danns on the sidelines.

Dominik Szoboszlai is again after serving a one-game suspension, however Ibrahima Konate is a yellow card away from being banned for Sunday’s journey to Fulham.

Mohamed Salah is on the Africa Cup of Nations and was rested for Egypt’s lifeless rubber group stage conflict with Angola on Tuesday.

4. Potential Liverpool beginning XI

There isn’t any want for Arne Slot to make a number of modifications in opposition to Leeds, although it is going to be fascinating to see how he matches Szoboszlai again into the workforce.

The more than likely situation is that the the Hungarian is available in for Federico Chiesa on the precise.

Jeremie Frimpong assisted within the win over Wolves and will begin, whereas Andy Robertson will hope to switch Milos Kerkez who has performed 4 a number of 90 minutes in a row.

Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekiti

5. How might Leeds line up?

Joe Rodon is Leeds‘ most high-profile harm sufferer, with the centre-back limping off in Sunday’s 1-1 draw away to Sunderland. Sean Longstaff and Dan James are additionally lacking for the guests.

In any other case, Farke has a wholesome squad to select from, with Calvert-Lewin anticipated to steer the road, having already scored in opposition to Liverpool this season.

Noah Okafor might begin up entrance alongside him, whereas Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach are a key midfield pair.

Attainable Leeds XI: Perri; Bogle, Struijk, Bijol, Justin, Gudmundsson; Stach, Aaronson, Ampadu; Okafor, Calvert-Lewin

6. Arne Slot says Florian Wirtz wanted “a little bit of time to adapt”

Talking to the media, Slot mentioned Florian Wirtz and the calls for of adjusting to life in a brand new nation:

“It’s totally different – your life is a bit the other way up, and that, for a supervisor, isn’t the largest downside as a result of I don’t need to carry out on the pitch.

“However I can absolutely perceive that some people want a little bit of time to adapt off the pitch as effectively. The most important adaptation in case you come from overseas is that this league and the way intense it’s.

“At this time (after the win over Wolves), and even in case you play as soon as per week, you possibly can see that Hugo [Ekitike] had a cramp after 70 or 75 minutes.

“And I didn’t take Florian out as a result of he performed badly, I took him out as a result of he was hardly capable of carry on working anymore.

“That tells you concerning the new gamers we’ve introduced in and the way huge a step it’s to regulate to those depth ranges.”

7. Leeds’ latest report at Anfield

Leeds‘ final journey to Liverpool was a memorable one for the travelling followers in October 2022, with Crysencio Summerville’s late strike sealing a 2-1 win.

Extremely, it was Virgil van Dijk‘s first-ever residence league defeat for the Reds in entrance of followers, after virtually 5 years and 70 video games within the competitors!

Liverpool received the earlier 5 Anfield clashes, nevertheless, together with a 6-0 hammering again in February 2022.

In reality, Leeds‘ final victory there, earlier than the Summerville-inspired win, got here means again in 2001 when Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer scored.

8. Do you know?

If Alisson retains a clear sheet, he’ll turn out to be solely the fifth Liverpool goalkeeper in historical past to maintain 100 within the league.

Ray Clemence, Bruce Grobbelaar, Pepe Reina and Elisha Scott are the others to have reached that milestone. What an unimaginable servant Alisson has been for Liverpool!