Sunderland 1 Leeds United 1: Lee Sobot's video verdict
Leeds United head to Anfield for a massive Premier League clash on New Year’s Day.
Leeds United’s quality became clear to Liverpool defender Conor Bradley earlier this month with another ‘difficult game’ expected at Anfield on Thursday.
The Whites kick off 2026 with a trip to Merseyside and will hope to match the performance that saw them draw 3-3 with Liverpool a few weeks ago. Daniel Farke’s side were 2-0 and 3-2 down at points but twice fought back to claim an important point against the reigning Premier League champions.
Bradley left the Elland Road pitch with his side 2-0 up thanks to a quickfire second-half brace from Hugo Ekitike but watched on as Leeds fought back, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Anton Stach making it 2-2 before Ao Tanaka cancelled out Dominik Szoboszlai’s effort. And the Liverpool right-back expects a similar challenge on Thursday.
“Leeds are a really good team - we found that out a few weeks ago when we went to Elland Road,” Bradley told Liverpool’s website. “We know it's going to be a difficult game but we're really looking forward to it."
Leeds took advantage that night of a Liverpool side who have been unusually fragile and have built on that comeback point with three more unbeaten games since. The Whites again came from behind to draw at Brentford and Sunderland, while Crystal Palace left Elland Road with a 4-1 thumping.
But Liverpool have also enjoyed a spell of momentum, winning four on the bounce across all competitions including three in the Premier League. And Bradley hopes his side can continue that run to start 2026 in the best possible form.
Liverpool defender’s Leeds United ‘momentum’ warning
"It feels like we're in a really good moment at the minute," the full-back added of his side, "Obviously we've had some really good results recently, so we've just got to keep that up.
“We've got another tough game coming up now with Leeds. We've just got to keep trying to build this momentum and keep it going. I think we've had some really good results recently, but I think the performances can definitely still get better.
“That's something we've got to strive to do, and hopefully we can do that in the upcoming games.”
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Liverpool will be without Alexander Isak, Mohamed Salah, Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo on Thursday but will welcome back Szoboszlai, who sat out last weekend’s win over Wolves through suspension. Florian Wirtz was absent from a recent training session but is not expected to be injured.
Leeds have close to the same squad they faced Liverpool with earlier this month, with Joe Rodon the most notable absence. The Welshman is expected to be out for a few weeks after suffering an ankle ligament injury during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
Longer-term absentees Sean Longstaff (calf) and Daniel James (hamstring tendon) remain sidelined for the New Year’s Day clash. Striker Lukas Nmecha will be fit to face the reigning Premier League champions, having missed the reverse fixture with a hamstring injury he returned from at the Stadium of Light.
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