BETTING GUIDE: Liverpool vs Leeds, match preview, team news and betting tip
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 01.01.26. | 12:51
The fixture brings together a Liverpool side pushing to consolidate a top-four place and a Leeds team fighting to pull further clear of the relegation battle
Liverpool hosts Leeds United at Anfield on Thursday night, with an 8:30 pm kickoff marking one of the final fixtures of Premier League Matchday 19, with both sides starting 2026 in contrasting but intriguing positions.
The fixture brings together a Liverpool side pushing to consolidate a top-four place and a Leeds team fighting to pull further clear of the relegation battle.
Liverpool begin the round fourth in the table with 32 points from 18 matches, having stabilized their season after a difficult early autumn.
The Reds are unbeaten in their last seven games across all competitions, winning five and drawing two, and their last five league matches have produced three wins and two draws.
In that run, Liverpool have scored ten goals and conceded five, underlining a return to attacking fluency but also a defense that can be breached.
At Anfield, they have won back-to-back league games, beating Brighton 2-0 and Wolves 2-1, and they tend to start calendar years strongly on home soil.
In terms of team news, Liverpool will again be without Mohamed Salah, who is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty, while Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, and Alexander Isak remain sidelined through injury.
Dominik Szoboszlai returns from suspension and should strengthen the attacking midfield.
Hugo Ekitike is the key figure in attack, leading the club’s scoring charts in the league, while Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister provide creativity behind him.
Liverpool are expected to stick with their 4-2-3-1 shape, prioritizing control and quick transitions.
Leeds United travel to Merseyside sitting 16th with 20 points, six clear of the relegation zone.
Daniel Farke’s side are unbeaten in their last five league games, recording two wins and three draws, and their confidence has been boosted by improved attacking output.
Over their last five matches, Leeds have scored 12 goals but conceded seven, highlighting why their games have become open and high-scoring affairs.
Away from home, however, the Whites are winless in their last six league trips, though they have scored in each of their last four away matches.
Leeds’ injury list includes Joe Rodon, Sean Longstaff, and Dan James, forcing potential adjustments at the back.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the standout attacking threat, having scored in six consecutive league games, while Brenden Aaronson continues to contribute energy and creativity from midfield.
Leeds are likely to maintain their attacking intent despite their underdog status, often favoring a system that commits numbers forward.
Recent head-to-head meetings strongly support a goals-based angle. The reverse fixture in December ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw, and eight of the last 12 meetings between these sides have seen both teams score.
The average goals per game in recent encounters stands high, with Liverpool usually finding the net at Anfield but rarely keeping Leeds out.
Key Betting Pointers:
Liverpool have seen both teams score in four of their last five league matches.
Leeds have seen BTTS land in each of their last eight league games.
The last three meetings between these sides all produced goals for both teams.
Both teams average over three total goals per match this season.
Liverpool’s strong home form and improving momentum should give them the edge, but Leeds’ current scoring run makes them dangerous, especially against a Reds defense that still shows vulnerability.
With attacking quality on both sides and recent trends pointing firmly towards goals, the best value lies in the goals market.
Prediction: Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
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