Liverpool’s Expected Starting XI Against Leeds United on January 1

Published On: January 1, 2026

Liverpool's Expected Starting XI Against Leeds United on January 1

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Liverpool is set to play at Anfield, looking to build on last week’s close win over Wolves as they face Leeds in the Premier League. Although the victory was crucial, it did raise some concerns since Liverpool was fortunate at times against a Wolves team still in search of their first league win this season. The predicted lineup for Liverpool against Leeds is expected to reflect Arne Slot’s focus on maintaining control and structure, rather than making significant attacking changes.

Liverpool Predicted Lineup vs Leeds in the Premier League

Recent Team Setup

Slot has been using a 4-5-1 formation lately, aimed at shoring up Liverpool’s defense after several matches revealed vulnerabilities. A notable aspect of this setup is the partnership of Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield, offering Liverpool two holding players instead of one.

This added protection has limited the space for opponents to exploit through the center and has allowed Liverpool to control matches more effectively. The full-backs are still encouraged to advance, but the overall approach emphasizes control, especially in the latter stages of games.

Current Form

Liverpool’s recent performances have been more functional than fluent. While they secured three points against Wolves, the match was tense, particularly in the second half, where an equalizer seemed possible. They lost focus defensively and had difficulty securing the game, despite dominating possession.

This match followed a familiar trend: improved organization but a struggle to establish control when it mattered most. Hugo Ekitike has been a key player up front, pulling defenders out of position and providing a direct attacking option. With a deeper midfield setup, Liverpool has been better at handling shifts in momentum. Against Leeds, they will aim to take charge early and avoid a stressful finish.

Injury Updates

The injury situation remains mostly the same. Mohamed Salah is away representing Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations. Alexander Isak is sidelined with an ankle injury from the match against Tottenham and will be out for some time. Joe Gomez is unavailable due to a muscle injury, and Wataru Endo continues to miss out with an ankle problem.

Conor Bradley is back after being doubtful last week, and Dominik Szoboszlai is fit again after his suspension. Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from a long-term ACL injury. With no major player returns expected, Slot is likely to focus on continuity, especially in midfield, where recent changes have improved balance.