Liverpool vs. Leeds United Prediction: Reds Can Come Out on Top Again

• Liverpool have put a winning run together to boost their top-four chances

• Leeds United’s revival has really shaken up the relegation battle

• Will Liverpool succeed in front of their own fans, or can Leeds shock them?

Liverpool vs. Leeds United Odds

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My +181 Pick for Liverpool vs. Leeds United 

Back Liverpool to win and both teams to score. The Reds still do not look right defensively, but they should nevertheless get the job done here.

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Liverpool Have Turned a Corner After Dismal Spell of Form

Liverpool are not in the Premier League title race as the midway stage of the season approaches. Barring near-perfection in the second half of the campaign, a 10-point deficit to top spot will be too large to make up. But given how bleak their situation looked a few weeks back, Liverpool will just be relieved to be back in the top four.

Arne Slot's side appear to have come out the other side of their sticky spell. Liverpool have won four games in a row in all competitions, the last three of which came in the Premier League. As a result, they have risen above Chelsea and Manchester United among others, entering the Champions League qualification spots in the process.

Liverpool are not the force they were last term. They remain vulnerable defensively and are struggling to kill games off. A 2-1 triumph over last-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday was not altogether convincing, and their opponents could easily have forced an equalizer on another day.

Overall, though, Slot will be pleased with the way his team has performed in recent weeks. The attack has been sharper, as best exemplified by Florian Wirtz’s display against Wolves. The Germany international was heavily involved throughout, and he finally scored his first goal for the club he joined from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.

"For a long time, until 2-1, it was the way I wanted the game to go,” Slot said at the weekend. “But then we conceded, and not for the first time from a set-piece. But the positive thing about all of this is for large parts of the season when we have conceded a set-piece we have lost the game, but in the last two games we have been able to win. We also understand we have to improve in that part, that's clear and obvious.”

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Leeds United Have Given Themselves a Chance of Survival

Leeds United could hardly have asked for a better December. Daniel Farke began the month as the Premier League's most under-pressure manager. It seemed a matter of when, rather than if, he would be relieved of his duties. Fast forward a few weeks and Farke is sitting a great deal more comfortably in the Elland Road hot seat.

Leeds did not lose any of their five assignments in the final month of 2025. Emphatic home victories over Chelsea (3-1) and Crystal Palace (4-1) were the highlights, but Leeds also mounted a spirited comeback to draw 3-3 with Liverpool, as well as collecting a point away from home against each of Brentford and Sunderland.

Their timely improvement has boosted Leeds’ survival chances. With West Ham United and Burnley struggling for form, Leeds have opened up a seven-point cushion above the bottom three. It is far too early to take anything for granted, but the Whites will be delighted with the position they are in at the beginning of 2026. 

Farke deserves credit for his tactical flexibility. He switched to a 3-5-2 formation during a narrow loss to Manchester City at the end of November. Against Sunderland he shifted shape again, further demonstrating his adaptability on the touchline.

“The unbeaten run continues,” Farke said after the draw at the Stadium of Light on Sunday. ‘We showed again a great mentality to come back out of a losing position. Then of course another point on the table. 

“It’s definitely a good point. The performance from minute 30 on, because I think we dominated this game, mood-wise I’m a bit in-between. All the positives I mentioned now, but the gut feeling was we could have started the game better.”

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Liverpool Should Triumph but Clean Sheet Will Elude Them

Leeds United's form has improved dramatically over the last few weeks, but their last three victories have all come at home. Farke’s men have only triumphed once on their travels all season, and that success came against last-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers.

That is not to say Leeds are incapable of making life difficult for Liverpool. This is a team with a new-found spirit that has made itself tough to beat of late. Leeds are physical and direct, and Liverpool will need to stand up to that challenge.

Overall, though, it is hard to look past a home win. We envisage a similar game to the one Liverpool were involved in against Wolves at the weekend. The Reds will not be back to their fluent best, but their superior individual talent should get them over the line.

At a minimum, Leeds will fancy their chances of finding the back of the net, as they have done in eight consecutive matches. Go for a Liverpool victory and both teams to score.

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How to Watch Liverpool vs. Leeds United

• Teams: Liverpool vs. Leeds United

• Location: Anfield, Liverpool, England

• Date and Time: Thursday 1st January, 12.30PM ET

• How to Watch: USA Network