On New Year’s Day, the Premier League is topped by Liverpool vs Leeds United when the champions receive a threat on their own soil. This game has weight to both clubs as momentum, league standings, and squad depth are put to the test at the beginning of 2026.
Liverpool comes to the game having put together a good, unbeaten streak since some challenging times in the season, with a notable turnaround in results. In 18 games, Arne Slot’s side occupies fourth place in the table, and the attacking performance increases, while the defensive stability is still a problem.
The last victories in the leagues have reinforced confidence within the team, especially at home, where the goals have come easily, and the clean sheets have proved difficult. This leaves Liverpool with fewer attacking players since Mohamed Salah is absent and he is taking part in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Leeds United come to watch the game at Anfield with their heads held high, as they have not lost a game in their past five league games since coming back to the first division. Daniel Farke’s team is at 16 th and has been depending on small defending and speedy counter-attacks to earn useful points.
The use of set pieces has been a strong point of Leeds in the current season, and their dead-ball efficiency is one of the best in the league. Their performance on the road is, however, still an issue; they have scarcely been able to pull off wins against top-half competition.
The last Liverpool vs Leeds United game was a dramatic 3-3 draw at Elland Road in December, and as such, underlines how open this game can be. Historically, which the Liverpool have controlled at Anfield, Leeds have had only a single league win in the past 25 years there.
The contest will take its shape through team news, with Liverpool also out due to both Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo being out due to injury, with Dominik Szoboszlai coming back following suspension. Virgil van Dijk will be the expected defense captain, and Hugo Ekitiké will continue his good scoring streak in the absence of Salah.
Leeds will also be short of Joe Rodon, Sean Longstaff, and Daniel James, and this reduces the choice of options in defence and midfield. Domic Calvert-Lewin will be at the end of a fruitful run in front of goal, with set-piece specialist Anton Stach.
As far as the league is concerned, the result of Liverpool vs Leeds United is very different at the other end of the table. Liverpool are in the drive to remain within the reach of the leaders, and Leeds are looking to remain a distance between themselves and the relegation zone.
The game will serve as a highly competitive beginning to the new calendar year, and the dynamics of the game could be determined by opposing styles. The result of the next game will determine the ability of Liverpool to defend the title, but also the struggle of Leeds to remain afloat as the Premier League season enters its midseason phase.
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