Leeds won’t be a soft touch for Liverpool this weekend, with Whites supporters in positive spirits after an improved run of form.
The Reds begin 2026 with the visit of Daniel Farke’s side on New Year’s Day, looking to make it four Premier League wins in a row.
Leeds are doing better in their own right, however, and are unbeaten in their last five league matches, drawing 1-1 at Sunderland over the weekend.
Ahead of the game, we spoke to Leeds fan James Thewlis to preview an important fixture for both sides, and a big one historically.
How would you assess Leeds’ season so far?
I would have taken not being in the bottom three and currently averaging over a point a game come the New Year.
Leeds‘ recent formation change to playing three at the back has changed our fortunes, and we are currently unbeaten in five.
If the 3-2 defeat away at Man City is included, which prompted the formation change in the second half, we have been unlucky to not have taken even more points in that run.
Leeds have been competitive, and we have only really been outclassed by Arsenal and Brighton this season, in my opinion.
But we have struggled to hold onto and capitalise on opportunities presented this season.
Conceding late at home to Bournemouth and away at Fulham, and not converting draws into wins when the better side, particularly in recent away games against Brentford and Sunderland, could have us sitting around mid-table.
Recruitment has been good in defensive areas and Leeds have really bolstered athletically and physically, which is needed in this division.
Going forward, business looked very poor with very little spent and taking chances on historically injury-prone players such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor looked risky.
We looked to have little goals in the side on paper, and this was how the season was playing out until the formation change. We have scored 14 goals in our last six games and now look like a real handful going forward.
I am happy overall with where Leeds are at, but January is going to be a key month in what we can realistically do to strengthen the squad, as it feels that we are close to the PSR limit.
Some outgoings may be needed to fund any moves Leeds make.
Is Daniel Farke still the right man for the job?
The jury is out on this one. I was firmly in the ‘Daniel Farke out’ camp and would not have been angered by a change in manager, particularly after the Aston Villa defeat in November.
The squad build was crying out for a 3-5-2/5-3-2 setup, but Farke seemed to be persevering with just 4-3-3 or variants thereof.
Fans wanted this system change and Farke obliged, likely realising that after the City game, his position may have been untenable.
Since then, Leeds have looked excellent at times, and if we continue to perform as we are, Farke deserves to continue.
I am still not a huge fan of his in-game management and flexibility. Substitutions could be more proactive and made earlier at times, particularly when Leeds have been in the ascendancy.
Farke is naturally quite a cautious manager and is more reactive to situations. Brentford away comes to mind, where he made positive changes, but only after the hosts had taken the lead halfway through the second half.
Making these changes earlier likely would have led to a win rather than a point.
Farke has at least shown that he can change things up and tweak formations in-game, which lately has led to positive outcomes and performances.
Hopefully, this is now a platform that he can build on.
Which three players have shone most for Leeds? Anyone struggled?
Calvert-Lewin is in the form of his life currently. Confidence is high, and most importantly, he looks fit and sharp.
I questioned the signing and felt it was a real risk based on fitness and not being clinical historically, if he was being brought in as our first choice No. 9.
There is no coincidence that his upturn in form and goals has been down to Leeds playing to his strengths over the last six games, which has resulted in seven goals and an England call-up likely on the cards.
Jaka Bijol has been immense since coming into the side as the middle of the back three. He is fantastic in the air, physical and loves defending.
He has kept Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago and Jean-Philippe Mateta very quiet in the recent run Leeds have been on.
Gabriel Gudmundsson has been an excellent addition at left-back. Leeds have struggled in this position for a while now, but he has fit in really well and was likely our best performer in the first quarter of the season when playing in the back four.
Ao Tanaka has struggled with the pace and physicality of the league and looks a little out of sorts at the moment, which has led to reduced minutes.
I would argue that Joel Piroe has been poor for the same reasons as Tanaka, while Lucas Perri, our new goalkeeper, has struggled the most. His kicking is poor and he has not covered himself in glory with some of the goals we have conceded.
Do you think you will avoid relegation come May?
As things stand, I think Leeds will stay up if our level of performance continues. We look tough to beat at home, and I feel as though we will get results at Elland Road.
We have not been great away from home and have only beaten Wolves on the road this season.
West Ham have to recruit in January and are coming into a good run of fixtures, but they look poor.
Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, particularly with Antoine Semenyo likely leaving, are both in trouble, so I feel as though we have an excellent chance of staying up this season.
I think 15th to 17th will be our range of finish this campaign.
How do you assess Liverpool’s season? Would you stick with Slot?
It has been interesting to say the least.
The money spent and calibre of player coming in made it look like Liverpool would go from strength to strength and build on the title win last season, and look at also winning the Champions League.
Performances have been lacklustre all season, though, and I don’t feel there have been many good performances in the league.
Liverpool are currently doing what they did at the beginning of the season and picking up results when not performing particularly well.
There have been a couple of excellent performances in the Champions League, which have been a bit of a false dawn, but they are still fourth in the league and have a good chance of finishing in the top eight in Europe, so it is not all bad.
I would stick with Arne Slot, but if performances don’t start to pick up, he could be in trouble in the summer, especially if Xabi Alonso becomes available.
If you could only have one Liverpool player at Leeds, who would it be?
It would have to be Alisson. The deficiencies I have mentioned that we have with Perri would not be occurring with a world-class keeper.
He is a fantastic shot-stopper first and foremost, and you need that in a relegation-threatened side. He is also great with his feet and picking out long balls.
With the style Leeds are currently playing and trying to hit a target man, Alisson would be ideal.
Where will the key battles take place on New Year’s Day?
If Leeds are to play Calvert-Lewin and Nmecha up top as a front two, Liverpool’s defence are going to have a huge battle on their hands.
Both are physical, strong and can run in behind.
Liverpool have not looked good defensively and they could get bullied by those two, especially with our direct approach.
Leeds will likely be missing Joe Rodon, which is a big blow, and it remains to be seen who will fill in if Leeds stay with the back three.
Ethan Ampadu could drop in, but then Leeds will lose combativeness in the midfield, which is needed against a higher-quality opponent.
If this is the case, we will need to select the midfield carefully so as not to be too easy to play through.
What’s your prediction?
The obvious answer is a home win and I feel that is the likely result by the odd goal.
I would like to think Leeds can get a point if we keep our level of performance and don’t commit silly defensive errors as in the reverse fixture.
Liverpool 2-1 Leeds is my prediction.