Players of Liverpool participate in a training session on December 19, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)placeholder image
Players of Liverpool participate in a training session on December 19, 2025 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images) | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Things spotted from Liverpool training ahead of the Premier League clash against Leeds United.
Liverpool aim to bring in 2026 with a victory when they welcome Leeds United to Anfield on New Year’s Day.
The Reds signed off last year with a 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, stretching their unbeaten run to seven games. However, Arne Slot’s side need to make improvements if they are to fully convince they will finish in the top four this campaign. That is the ultimate aim, with Liverpool’s Premier League title defence already over and they have a battle to secure Champions League qualification. Performances have still not entirely won over supporters despite the recent results.
It was less than a month ago when Liverpool were held to a 3-3 draw against Leeds at Elland Road. Slot’s troops twice threw away the lead, having been in full control of the game. The Whites have pulled clear of the relegation zone, having gone unbeaten in their past five games and are six points above 18th-placed West Ham. They are opposition that cannot be underestimated.
Liverpool uploaded footage from their session at the AXA Training Centre on Tuesday, although there were a total of seven players absent. Of course, Mo Salah is representing Egypt at the African Cup of Nations. The winger, who gave his bombshell interview at Elland Road after being an unused substitute, could be absent for another two weeks depending on how far Egypt go in the tournament.
Alexander Isak is on the road to recovery after breaking his leg in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month. The £125 million British record signing will be unavailable for at least a couple of months, depending on his recovery. In addition, Giovanni Leoni will not play again this season after rupturing his ACL.
And it does not appear that Joe Gomez or Wataru Endo will be back in the squad to face Leeds. Versatile defender Gomez has been absent since he limped off in a 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Meanwhile, Endo - who can play in midfield or at the back - hasn’t played since coming off the bench against Leeds where he sustained an ankle injury. It means that Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate will be Liverpool’s only fit senior centre-backs once again.
In addition, Stefan Bajcetic has still to be reintegrated into first-team training. The midfielder had hamstring surgery in the summer, having picked up his issue while on loan at Spanish side Las Palmas last season. Jayden Danns is recovering from a similar problem, The well-regarded striker might well have been on the bench to fill the void of Isak had he been fit.
In better news, Dominik Szoboszlai is back available after serving a one-game suspension against Wolves. Cody Gakpo came off the bench late in that game after he overcame a muscle issue.
There were also several youngsters who again supplemented the training session. Trey Nyoni has come off the bench in the dying embers of the past two league games. He will be hoping for another outing against Leeds. Calvin Ramsay and Wellity Lucky helped make up the numbers on the bench against Wolves, while Kieran Morrison has been training with Slot’s men for the past few weeks.
There was also a chance for defender Josh Davidson to rub shoulders with Virgil van Dijk, Florian Wirtz and Co. The 20-year-old defender has been with Liverpool since he was six. Davidson, mainly a right-back, has made eight appearances for the under-21s this term and has been capped at England under-18 level.
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