Liverpool aim to solidify top-four spot as resurgent Leeds visit Anfield

Liverpool look to continue their fine form in the Premier League as they welcome Leeds United to Anfield on New Year’s Day.

The Reds secured a 2-1 win over rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out and are looking for their fifth consecutive victory.

Leeds were held to a 1-1 draw at Sunderland as they extended their unbeaten run to five games.

Match preview

Liverpool have scored 19 goals in their last five Premier League matches against Leeds (W3 D1 L1), although they let a 2-0 lead slip to draw 3-3 at Elland Road in December, their highest-scoring draw ever with the Whites.

Leeds won 2-1 in their last away league game against Liverpool in October 2022. They’ve never won consecutive visits to the Reds in their league history.

The Reds have won five of their last six Premier League games on New Year’s Day (D1), with their last defeat coming at home to Chelsea back in 2005.

The Whites have won one of their last 16 away top-flight matches against the reigning champions (D5 L10), beating Arsenal 3-2 at Highbury back in May 2003 thanks to a late Mark Viduka winner.

Liverpool have started the year with a league win in just three of the last 11 years (D4 L4), although they haven’t lost their first game of the year when it’s been at Anfield on any of the last nine occasions (W6 D3).

Leeds haven’t lost any of their last 10 league games played in January (W6 D4) since a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in 2023 under Jesse Marsch. The only side in the top four tiers on a longer current unbeaten run in January is Arsenal (11 games).

Arne Slot’s side have won their last three Premier League games, having won just two of their previous 10 beforehand (D2 L6).

Having failed to score or assist a goal in any of his first 15 Premier League appearances, Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz has now scored (1) or assisted (1) in his last two. He last registered a goal involvement in more consecutive league games in November/December last year (a run of six with Bayer Leverkusen).

Team news

Liverpool

Dominik Szoboszlai is back from suspension after he served his one-match ban against Wolves.

Alexander Isak, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni are on the sidelines for the host.

Mohamed Salah is away on international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Leeds United

Joe Rodon was forced off with an ankle injury against Sunderland and is ruled out for this game.

Sean Longstaff and Daniel James are also sidelined with injuries.

Predicted line-ups

Liverpool: Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, Federico Chiesa, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké.

Leeds United: Lucas Perri, Jayden Bogle, Ethan Ampadu, Jaka Bijol, Pascal Struijk, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Ao Tanaka, Anton Stach, Brenden Aaronson, Noah Okafor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.