Arne Slot looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)placeholder image
Arne Slot looks on during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 20, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool team predicted to face Leeds United in the Premier League at Anfield.
Liverpool look to raise the curtain on 2026 with a victory when they face Leeds United at Anfield.
The Reds will be hoping that they can have a better second half of the campaign given their stuttering performances. Liverpool’s Premier League title defence is over as they’re 13 points behind leaders Arsenal in the table. But finding consistency in their performances is now key.
Arne Slot believes that his team will be on an upward trajectory given the changes to his squad last summer. The head coach must now prove his theory, starting against Leeds.
It was less than a month ago that the Reds twice threw away the lead against Daniel Farke’s side and were held to a 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Liverpool have won their subsequent four games, although they were not all convincing when beating basement side Wolves 2-1 last time out.
Slot does set to have depleted options against Leeds, with Mo Salah (AFCON), Alexander Isak (broken leg), Joe Gomez muscle), Wataru Endo (ankle), Giovanni Leoni (ACL), Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns (both hamstring) unavailable. And with a trip to Fulham on Sunday, Liverpool will have a quick turnaround so some players need to be kept fresh.
With everything in mind, here’s the Liverpool team predicted.
GK - Alisson Becker
Would have been frustrated not to have kept a clean sheet against Wolves and will be determined to deliver a shutout.
RB - Conor Bradley
The Northern Ireland international came off the bench to make a crucial tackle against Wolves. Frimpong may not be risked so quickly given he’s only just back from a fairly serious injury so Bradley could be selected from the outset.
CB - Ibrahima Konate
Been much better since making his mistake at Leeds that sparked the comeback. To use Slot’s phrase, he has to continue to ‘avoid the crimescene’.
CB - Virgil van Dijk
With the departure of Aaron Briggs, Liverpool’s captain may be given more responsibility at defending set-pieces.
LB - Milos Kerkez
The £40 million summer signing from Bournemouth has made decent progress in recent weeks and started to win over some of his early detractors.
CM - Ryan Gravenberch
Fired home the opening goal at Wolves and has become much more of a threat in the final third.
Enjoying arguably his best run of form in the Liverpool team. Has to continue to demand the ball and play with positivity.
RW - Dominik Szoboszlai
The Reds’ new talisman is back from serving a one-match suspension. While Szoboszlai’s future very much lies in midfield, he may have to operate wide as Frimpong will be carefully managed and Federico Chiesa didn’t do too much against Wolves.
AM - Alexis Mac Allister
The Argentina international’s form has been well-below par last season. But he’s been part of a midfield that has won the past four games so there may be no reason to make tweaks yet.
LW - Florian Wirtz
Really starting to come into his own and show the ability that fans knew he had when he signed. Will be plenty confident after breaking his goal duck against Wolves.
ST - Hugo Ekiitke
The France international has been immense since his summer arrival, having hit 11 goals in all competitions while he assisted Wirtz’s goal against Wolves.
Mamardashvili, Frimpong, Robertson, Lucky, Ramsay, Nyoni, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha.
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