Leeds United vs Liverpool — Match Preview
A blockbuster Saturday evening clash awaits at Elland Road as Leeds United host Liverpool in the Premier League. The narratives surrounding both clubs could not be more intense.
For Leeds United, the mood has shifted dramatically. Manager Daniel Farke was reportedly on the brink of dismissal before masterminding a stunning 3-1 victory over Chelsea in midweek. That result lifted the Whites out of the relegation zone and ignited belief that they can compete with the league’s elite. Farke will demand the same intensity and “heavy metal” pressing that dismantled the Blues.
Liverpool, on the other hand, are a team in crisis. Arne Slot’s side sit 8th, winless in their last two matches against Sunderland (1-1) and PSV (1-4). The pressure is mounting on the Dutchman as his expensively assembled squad—featuring Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak—struggles for cohesion. With the Anfield faithful growing restless, Liverpool cannot afford another slip-up against a bottom-half side, especially in the hostile cauldron of Elland Road.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Leeds United vs Liverpool
- Competition: Premier League (Matchweek 15)
- Venue: Elland Road, Leeds (Capacity: 37,792)
- Date: Saturday, 06 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 17:30 GMT / 18:30 CET / 23:00 IST
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- VAR: Michael Oliver (Expected)
- TV Channel (UK): Sky Sports Main Event / Premier League
- TV Channel (USA): NBC, Peacock
- TV Channel (India): Star Sports Select 1, Disney+ Hotstar
- Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), Peacock (USA), JioStar (India)
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Leeds United:
- Position: 17th in Premier League (14 Points).
- Form: Revived. The 3-1 win vs Chelsea snapped a four-game losing streak. They have scored 16 goals but conceded 26, highlighting their “all or nothing” approach.
- Current Challenge: Consistency. Can they replicate the Chelsea performance just three days later against another giant?
Liverpool:
- Position: 8th in Premier League (22 Points).
- Form: Worrying. They have won just 1 of their last 5 games in all competitions (a 2-0 win over West Ham). The 1-1 draw with Sunderland was salvaged by a late goal, and the 1-4 loss to PSV in Europe was a humiliation.
- Current Challenge: Defensive Fragility. They have conceded 8 goals in their last 4 games. Slot needs to plug the leaks immediately.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — What’s at Stake
For Leeds United:
- Survival Momentum: Back-to-back wins against “Big 6” sides would be the stuff of legend and could push them towards mid-table safety. It would also likely secure Daniel Farke’s job for the foreseeable future.
For Liverpool:
- Top 4 Relevance: Sitting 8th is unacceptable for this squad. A loss here could see the gap to the Champions League spots widen to a dangerous margin. Slot needs a win to silence the “sack” rumors.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Team Form
Leeds United (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Chelsea (3-1)
- L vs Manchester City (2-3)
- L vs Aston Villa (1-2)
- L vs Nottingham Forest (1-3)
- L vs Brighton (0-3)
Liverpool (Last 5 Matches):
- D vs Sunderland (1-1)
- W vs West Ham (2-0)
- L vs PSV Eindhoven (1-4 – CL)
- L vs Nottingham Forest (0-3)
- L vs Manchester City (0-3)
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Team News
Leeds United:
- Daniel James: Out (Hamstring Injury – A blow to their counter-attacking speed).
- Sean Longstaff: Out (Calf Injury – The midfielder misses out).
- Selection: After the Chelsea win, Farke is likely to keep faith with the same core. Ao Tanaka and Jaka Bijol were immense and should start. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to lead the line.
Liverpool:
- Injury Crisis at Right-Back: Jeremie Frimpong (Hamstring) and Conor Bradley (Muscle) are both Out. This leaves Slot with a headache—Joe Gomez or Trent Alexander-Arnold (if moved back from midfield) will have to play there.
- Stefan Bajcetic: Out (Hamstring).
- Youngsters Out: Luke Chambers, Giovanni Leoni, and Calum Scanlon are all unavailable.
- Mohamed Salah: The Egyptian King was benched recently but is expected to return to the starting XI to provide a spark.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Head to Head
- 18 Apr 2023: Leeds 1–6 Liverpool (PL)
- 30 Oct 2022: Liverpool 1–2 Leeds (PL)
- 24 Feb 2022: Liverpool 6–0 Leeds (PL)
- 12 Sep 2021: Leeds 0–3 Liverpool (PL)
- 20 Apr 2021: Leeds 1–1 Liverpool (PL)
- Analysis: Liverpool have historically dominated this fixture, including two 6-goal thrashings. However, Leeds’ famous win at Anfield in 2022 proves they can upset the odds.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Predicted Lineups
Leeds United (4-2-3-1):
Farke sticks to the winning formula. Gnonto provides the X-factor in James’ absence.
- GK: Lucas Perri
- RB: Jayden Bogle
- CB: Joe Rodon
- CB: Jaka Bijol
- LB: Gabriel Gudmundsson
- CDM: Ethan Ampadu (C)
- CDM: Anton Stach
- RW: Wilfried Gnonto
- CAM: Ao Tanaka
- LW: Manor Solomon
- ST: Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Liverpool (4-3-3):
Slot recalls his big guns. Gomez fills in at RB.
- GK: Alisson Becker
- RB: Joe Gomez
- CB: Ibrahima Konaté
- CB: Virgil van Dijk (C)
- LB: Andrew Robertson
- CM: Ryan Gravenberch
- CM: Alexis Mac Allister
- CM: Dominik Szoboszlai
- RW: Mohamed Salah
- ST: Alexander Isak
- LW: Florian Wirtz
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Impact Bench Options
Leeds United:
- Mateo Joseph: High energy off the bench to press tired Liverpool defenders.
- Brenden Aaronson: Can add creativity if Leeds are chasing a goal or need to hold onto the ball.
Liverpool:
- Cody Gakpo: Offers direct running and goals from the left if Wirtz struggles to impact the game.
- Darwin Núñez: The agent of chaos. If Liverpool are trailing, he is the first name Slot will call.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Tactical Outlook
Leeds United:
- Playing Style: Fearless Transition. Against Chelsea, Leeds pressed aggressively in midfield and broke with speed. They will target Joe Gomez at right-back, using Manor Solomon’s pace to isolate him.
- Strength: Elland Road Factor. The crowd is back on side after the Chelsea win. They will make it hostile.
Liverpool:
- Playing Style: Slot-Ball (Under Pressure). Liverpool wants to control possession, but their build-up has been slow and predictable. They rely heavily on individual brilliance from Salah and Wirtz.
- Weakness: Defensive Gaps. The space between Van Dijk and Robertson has been exploited repeatedly this season. Leeds’ Gnonto will drift into that channel.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Manor Solomon vs. Joe Gomez | Speed vs. Positioning: Gomez is not a natural attacking full-back. Solomon is tricky. If Liverpool over-commit, Solomon will have acres of space. | Leeds |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin vs. Virgil van Dijk | Aerial War: Calvert-Lewin is elite in the air. Van Dijk has looked vulnerable recently. This physical battle will decide if Leeds can hold the ball up. | Liverpool |
| Ao Tanaka vs. Alexis Mac Allister | Engine Room: Tanaka was MOTM vs Chelsea. Mac Allister needs to stop him from driving through the midfield. | Tie |
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Spotlight Players
Ao Tanaka (Leeds United):
The Japanese midfielder was a revelation against Chelsea, scoring and controlling the tempo. In the absence of Longstaff, he has become the heartbeat of Farke’s midfield. Can he do it again against Mac Allister and Szoboszlai?
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool):
The big-money signing saved Liverpool with a late goal against Sunderland. He is slowly finding his feet but needs a dominant 90-minute performance to justify the hype. Playing off the left, he will look to drift inside and shoot.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Fan Reactions
Leeds Fans:
“If we play like we did on Wednesday, Liverpool don’t stand a chance. Elland Road will be bouncing!”
“Tanaka is better than any Liverpool midfielder right now. 2-1 Leeds.”
Liverpool Fans:
“If Slot loses this, surely he’s gone? We can’t keep losing to bottom-half teams.”
“Salah has to start. No more experiments. We need 3 points.”
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Match-Defining Factors
- The First 15 Minutes: Leeds will fly out of the traps. If Liverpool weather the storm and silence the crowd, they have the quality to win. If Leeds score early, Liverpool might crumble mentally.
- Salah’s Attitude: Will he be motivated after being benched, or frustrated? A fired-up Salah is unstoppable.
- Defensive Errors: Both teams have negative goal differences (or close to zero) recently. This game screams “goals” due to defensive mistakes.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Prediction
Score Prediction: Leeds United 2–2 Liverpool
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Draw.
- Both Teams to Score: YES (Neither defense can be trusted).
- Over/Under: Over 3.5 Goals (Leeds are open; Liverpool have firepower).
Analysis: Leeds are riding a wave of euphoria, while Liverpool are stuck in a rut. However, the Reds possess too much individual quality to lose three league games in a row easily. Expect a chaotic, high-scoring thriller where Leeds’ energy is matched by Liverpool’s desperation, resulting in a share of the spoils.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — Final Word
This is the game of the weekend. Leeds United have their tails up and the crowd behind them, while Liverpool are fighting for their manager’s survival. It promises to be a breathless encounter full of goals, drama, and tension. Don’t take your eyes off this one.
Leeds United vs Liverpool — FAQs
When is the Leeds vs Liverpool match?
The match kicks off on Saturday, 06 December 2025, at 17:30 GMT (23:00 IST).
Is Daniel James playing?
No, Daniel James is out with a hamstring injury.
Is Mohamed Salah playing?
He is expected to return to the starting lineup after being rotated in previous games.
Where can I watch the match in India?
You can watch live on Star Sports Select 1 or stream on Disney+ Hotstar.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Will Farke master another giant-killing, or will Slot save his job? Drop your score predictions below!
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