MatchThe opposition lowdown: Leeds United

Season so far

Ahead of the midweek round of fixtures, Leeds were sat 16th in the Premier League standings.

They have taken 20 points from their opening 18 games of the campaign.

The Whites are also unbeaten in their last five top-flight fixtures and make the trip to Anfield following a 1-1 draw at Sunderland last Sunday.

Key players

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been the standout performer for the visitors in front of goal this season.

So far this term he has eight Premier League goals to his name, including seven strikes in his last six outings.

Striker Lukas Nmecha has found the back of the net on four occasions, while Anton Stach has struck three times.

Brenden Aaronson has been another key player with three assists for Leeds, while Stach and Sean Longstaff have two apiece.

Team news

Joe Rodon will miss his first league game since October 2023 after picking up an ankle injury last time out.

Daniel James and Sean Longstaff are also ruled out for the visitors.

Previous meeting

The Reds travelled to Elland Road at the start of December and the two sides played out a topsy-turvy 3-3 draw in West Yorkshire to share the points.

Hugo Ekitike netted a double for Liverpool, while Dominik Szoboszlai was also on the scoresheet for Arne Slot's charges.

Leeds, meanwhile, scored via a Calvert-Lewin penalty, before strikes from Stach and Ao Tanaka to deny the visitors victory.

What they said

Leeds head coach Farke

"To go in on New Year's Day to Anfield is more or less one of the most challenging and difficult tasks you can have, but we want to have those games. We want to play back on the top level, we have it right now and we have challenges. We're looking forward to this game.

"We know we are in a good position. If you are there after 18 matchdays already with 20 points, it's great. We have shown also that there is a chance for the promoted sides and we're on a good path, but nothing is achieved yet."

Pre-match stats

• Leeds have not lost any of their last 10 league games played in January - with six wins and four draws - since a 2-1 defeat by Aston Villa in 2023.

• The visitors will be looking to avoid defeat home and away against the reigning top-flight champions in a season for the first time since 1994-95 (versus Manchester United).

• Leeds won 2-1 in their last away league game against Liverpool, in October 2022. They have never won consecutive visits to the Reds in their league history.

• Calvert-Lewin has scored three goals in his last five league matches with Liverpool, but overall he has failed to find the net in six appearances at Anfield in the top flight.