Thursday 1st January 2026 5:30pm | Anfield
Leeds United make the 90 minute trip down the M62 on New Year’s Day full of optimism that they can once again unsettle Liverpool, just as they did in their thrilling 3-3 draw at Elland Road in early December. In that six-goal spectacle, Daniel Farke’s side twice came from behind to deny the Reds victory, only to find themselves at the centre of controversy when Arne Slot's players accused the Whites of over-celebrating what was ultimately a well-earned point. With bad blood simmering, Leeds will know that replicating that performance on Liverpool’s turf would be quite an achievement.
Statistically, the odds are stacked against them. Liverpool have scored 19 goals in their last five Premier League meetings with Leeds (W3 D1 L1), and the 3-3 draw at Elland Road remains their highest-scoring stalemate with the Yorkshire club. Leeds last triumphed away at Anfield in October 2022, winning 2-1 under Marcelo Bielsa, and have never won consecutive league visits to the Merseyside giants. What’s more, Leeds’ record on New Year’s Day in the top flight is modest: just one win in their last six (D3 L2), a 3-0 victory over Birmingham in January 2024, and this will be their first New Year’s Day fixture in the Premier League since that day back in 2003.
Liverpool, buoyed by a substandard 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, are set to welcome back midfield workhorse Dominik Szoboszlai from a one-match yellow-card ban. The Hungary international’s enforced break against Wolves appears to have done him good, and he is expected to displace Federico Chiesa in a forward line that also features Hugo Ekitike, Alexis Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz, who opened his Liverpool account with a dazzling seven dribbles against Wolves. Cody Gakpo, too, will be dangerous: he has a habit of scoring on New Year’s Day, netting in both Liverpool’s opening fixtures of 2024 and 2025, a feat not achieved in three consecutive years since Ian Rush in the 1980s. Defensively, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté and Milos Kerkez remain automatic selections, with Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch anchoring midfield. Arne Slot’s only potential tweak could see Conor Bradley come in for Jeremie Frimpong if the Dutch full-back requires a rest.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke addressed the media on Tuesday afternoon with a mix of caution and confidence. He confirmed that centre-half Joe Rodon will miss around three weeks with an ankle ligament injury but stressed that the squad depth will allow for tactical flexibility. Dan James and Sean Longstaff are edging closer to a return, while Lucas Nmecha, who enjoyed a twenty minute cameo role against Sunderland last time out, will have to make do with a seat on the bench as he works his way back from a thigh problem. Farke dismissed any suggestions of January departures, insisting that unity and togetherness remain at the heart of his dressing room. “I don’t believe in a bigger squad for the sake of it,” he said. “We have built a tight group that is hungry to improve, and no first-team player is leaving.”
On Liverpool’s threat, Farke paid full respect: “Their form has picked up, and Anfield is a cauldron. It’s a huge task, but we look forward to it. If we can be as competitive as we were in the first game, we’ll give ourselves a chance.” At the halfway point of the season, Leeds sit comfortably in mid-table, 20 points would have looked like survival secured in recent campaigns, but Farke is under no illusions that the hard work is done. He believes his promoted side have shown this term that there is life for newcomers in the Premier League, alongside Burnley and Sunderland, and he is determined to build on this platform. As the calendar flips to 2026, the stage is set for an Anfield showdown. Can Leeds once again spring a surprise and walk away with a share of the spoils?
