Liverpool boast a strong record on New Year’s Day in recent seasons, while Leeds typically don’t perform well on the opening day of the year.
In-form duo Liverpool and Leeds go head-to-head at Anfield on New Year’s Day.
The Reds, who occupy fourth place in the Premier League table ahead of the tie, are unbeaten in seven consecutive matches and have won each of their last four in all competitions.
Prior to this run and their recent upturn in form, they had lost six in seven in the league.
As a result, Arne Slot was heavily favoured in the Premier League sack race odds market. This is no longer the case, however, as he is now the eighth favourite in the market at 12/1.
Meanwhile, the Whites head into the tie enjoying a five-game unbeaten run (W2, 3D).
This includes a 3-3 draw against the Merseysiders at the start of the month, where they fought from behind on two occasions to snatch a point against the reigning champions.
Last time out, they drew 1-1 away at Sunderland and are now in 16th place in the table.
Both sides will be looking to build on their recent form with a positive result to kick off 2026.
Liverpool Boast Strong New Year’s Day Record Ahead of Leeds Clash
Reds fans will be delighted to hear that their New Year’s Day record of late bodes well for Leeds’ visit on Friday, as they have won five of their last six matches on the opening day of the year.
Liverpool’s Last Six New Year’s Day Results:
- Liverpool 4-2 Newcastle United (2024)
- Burnley 1-2 Liverpool (2018)
- Liverpool 2-2 Leicester City (2015)
- Liverpool 2-0 Hull City (2014)
- Liverpool 2-1 Bolton Wanderers (2011)
- Liverpool 3-0 Bolton Wanderers (2007)
Meanwhile, Leeds have won just one of their last six games played on New Year’s Day.
Leeds’ Last Six New Year’s Day Results:
- Leeds United 1-1 Blackburn Rovers (2025)
- Leeds United 3-0 Birmingham City (2024)
- West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Leeds United (2020)
- Nottingham Forest 4-2 Leeds United (2019)
- Leeds United 0-0 Nottingham Forest (2018)
- Leeds United 1-2 Blackburn Rovers (2014)
Their respective records on New Year’s Day clearly favour the hosts ahead of their Gameweek 19 showdown, while the Reds also boast a strong head-to-head record against the Whites.
Throughout history, Liverpool have beaten Leeds 63 times, while 32 of their encounters have ended in stalemates, and the Whites have prevailed against the Merseysiders on 29 occasions.
Their last five Premier League meetings have seen three Liverpool wins, one draw (their most recent clash at Elland Road at the start of December), and one win for Leeds back in 2022.
These statistics would suggest that the hosts are clear favourites for Friday night’s fixture.
Leeds Eye Consecutive Anfield Victories
Despite the aforementioned stats going against Leeds, their last visit to Anfield ended in victory.
It came as a 2-1 triumph on October 29, 2022, during the 2022-23 Premier League season.
Rodrigo gave the Whites, then managed by Jesse Marsch, an initial lead after just four minutes, before Reds talisman Mohamed Salah restored the parity on the 14-minute mark.
Leeds held strong for the remainder of the match. So much so, they managed to snatch all three points through Crysencio Summerville, now of West Ham United, in the 89th minute.
Unfortunately for Leeds supporters, they were still relegated at the end of the campaign.
They finished in 19th place, five points adrift of safety, and were demoted to the second tier alongside bottom-of-the-table Southampton and 2015-16 Premier League champions Leicester.
Farke’s men now head to Anfield on the hunt for a second consecutive win at the stadium.
Should they do so, it will be the first time in history that they’ve achieved the feat.
