By Ewan Hornell

When these sides met less than a month ago at Elland Road, Liverpool threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 3-3. However, overall it has been a positive festive period for Liverpool. The Reds are unbeaten in their last seven and the month of December. And since that Leeds fixture in early December they have won all 4 games.

Leeds are in a rich vein of form themselves. Unbeaten in their last 5 and also the month of December. They are being led by the red hot form of Dominic Calvert- Lewin who has scored 7 goals in his last 6 games. Their December form has seen them rise to 16th and 7 points clear of the relegation places.

Liverpool will be hoping to continue their unbeaten streak as they kick off the new year. But, the combination of Leeds’s good form and Liverpool’s unconvincing performance in their 2-1 victory over relegation bound Wolves will leave Leeds optimistic they could get something from Anfield.

 Team News

After serving his suspension against Wolves at the weekend Liverpool will welcome back Dominik Szoboszlai to the squad with open arms. Connor Bradley featured against Wolves as did Cody Gakpo as they work their way back to full fitness after recurring injury problems.

Bradley seems the more likely of the two to potentially feature from the start. The Northern Irish man may come in for Jeremie Frimpong who himself is just back from injury issues which has distributed much of his season so far.

Liverpool remain without Mohammed Salah who is still at AFCON and also Alexander Isak, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni who are all still unavailable through injury.

Some key team news for Leeds as they will likely be without defender Joe Rondon who had to come off after only 31 minutes with an ankle injury in their 1-1 draw with Sunderland. It seems plausible now that Leeds will tweak their formation slightly. Moving away from a 3-5-2 to a 4 at the back.

Predicted XI’S

Liverpool: Allison, Kerkez, Konate, Van Djik, Bradley, Gravenberch, Jones, Macallister, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Ekititke

Leeds: Perri, Gudmundsson, Struijk, Bijol, Bogle, Ampadu, Stach, Tanaka, Aaronson, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin

Pre Match Verdict

This has the makings of a game that Liverpool would struggle with this season but if Leeds are forced to move away from their 3-5-2 it may negatively impact them as since the switch to this formation their form and performances have been much better.

Liverpool at home should find a way to win although I have no doubts that there will be drama, and the task will be made much harder than it needs to be.

Predicted Score: Liverpool 3 – 2 Leeds United