TEAM NEWS: Five Liverpool players ruled out of Leeds United showdown
Liverpool host Leeds United at Anfield for the 5:30pm GMT kickoff, with both teams arriving in good form and plenty of selection questions to consider. The Reds head into the clash on the back of a gritty 2–1 victory over Wolves on December 27, boosted by a timely midfield return. Dominik Szoboszlai missed that win through suspension after reaching five yellow cards, but he has now served his ban and is available again for Arne Slot.
Defensively, the news is less positive. Joe Gomez has been sidelined since suffering a muscle injury against Brighton in mid-December, while Wataru Endo is still recovering from an ankle problem. Endo’s last appearance came in the 3–3 draw away to Leeds around three and a half weeks ago, a detail that adds another layer to Slot’s midfield decisions if he opts for control early and intensity later on.
There are also longer-term absences to manage. Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni remain injured, and Mohamed Salah is unavailable as he represents Egypt at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Salah’s absence inevitably alters Liverpool’s attacking dynamic and raises questions over where the consistent goals will come from.
One disciplinary detail is worth noting: Ibrahima Konaté is a booking away from a one-match Premier League suspension, a fine margin against a Leeds side that carry a direct threat.
Leeds arrive at Anfield unbeaten in their last five Premier League games and full of confidence. Their 1–1 draw away at Sunderland on December 28 extended that run, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring in his sixth consecutive league match. However, Daniel Farke faces a defensive setback. Joe Rodon, ever-present in the league since October 2023, was forced off in the first half at Sunderland with an ankle injury and has been ruled out of the trip to Anfield.
Farke confirmed:
“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 highlighted Leeds’ tactical flexibility despite Rodon’s absence:
“Of course I would prefer to have him available, but we have other players who can play in this position. We can play a back three or a back four. Sebastiaan Bornauw is one option, Sam Byram has played centre-back, and James Justin can also play in a back three. We have enough options and the flexibility to change.”
Lukas Nmecha made his return from the bench at the Stadium of Light, while Leeds also walk a suspension tightrope. Ethan Ampadu and Jayden Bogle are both one yellow card away from a one-match ban, mirroring Konaté’s situation on the Liverpool side.