Team News: Five Liverpool stars set to miss Leeds United clash | OneFootball

Liverpool v Leeds United Team News:

Liverpool welcome Leeds United to Anfield for the 5.30pm GMT kick off with both sides carrying momentum, and with enough selection intrigue to keep the spreadsheets busy. 

Liverpool Team News: Szoboszlai returns, Salah away

Liverpool come into this one off a hard fought 2-1 win over Wolves on December 27, and there is an immediate boost in midfield. Dominik Szoboszlai sat out that match due to a one match ban after collecting five yellow cards, but that suspension is now served, and he is available to be selected again by Slot.

The less welcome updates are in defence and on the wings. Joe Gomez has not featured since picking up a muscle injury against Brighton in mid December, and Wataru Endo has also been working back from an ankle issue. Endo last played in the 3-3 draw away at Leeds three and a half weeks ago, which adds a little context to the midfield puzzle Slot might face if he wants control first and chaos later.

There are also longer term concerns. Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni remain out with injury, and Mohamed Salah is currently unavailable as he competes at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt, which naturally reshapes Liverpool’s attacking balance and forces a rethink on who provides the reliable end product.

One disciplinary note is worth filing early. Ibrahima Konate would pick up a one game suspension in the Premier League if he is booked in this fixture, and with Leeds posing a direct threat, that margin matters.

Photo: IMAGO

Leeds United Team News: Rodon ruled out, Farke hints at flexibility

Leeds arrive unbeaten in five Premier League matches, and they will not come quietly. A 1-1 draw at Sunderland on December 28 extended that run, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring for the sixth league game in a row. The issue for Farke is that a key defensive ever present will not make the trip.

Joe Rodon, who had not missed a league match since October 2023, went off in the first half at Sunderland with an ankle problem. Farke confirmed on Tuesday that Rodon will not play at Anfield.

Farke said: “Daniel James and Sean Longstaff are out and also right now Joe Rodon is out.

“It’s not beneficial for what we want to do but no complaints – we go with what we’ve got and for that we try to be competitive again.”

He also addressed the tactical knock on effect, and the message was clear, Leeds have options.

Farke replied: “Of course I would prefer to have him available, it’s not a situation that I value when he is injured and not available, but we have other players who could also play in this position, so the good thing is we are flexible.

“We can play a three-man [defensive] formation, we can play a four-man formation, it’s good that we have different options but we have also different players who can cover this position.

“Sebastiaan Bornauw is one of them, Sam Byram is a player who has played centre-back, James Justin can play in the back three, so I still think we have enough options to have this as a possible base formation for this game. We are also flexible and capable to change.”

Suspensions watch and recent line ups

Lukas Nmecha returned to action off the bench at the Stadium of Light, and Leeds also have a suspension tightrope. Ethan Ampadu and Jayden Bogle are both one yellow card away from a one match ban, mirroring Liverpool’s Konate situation.

Predicted XI’s:

Liverpool: Alisson, Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez, Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Ekitike

Leeds United: Perri, Bogle, Amapadu, Bijol, Strujik, Gudmundsson, Stach, Tanaka, Aaronson, Okafor, Calvert-Lewin