Leeds United’s first game of 2026 takes them to champions Liverpool tonight.

A very strong call has been made on Leeds United’s first Premier League game of 2026 at Liverpool by the bookies with a clear expected main Whites danger.

The Whites and Reds will meet for the second time in less than four weeks in the New Year’s Day 5.30pm kick-off at Anfield, 26 days on from the thrilling 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture at Elland Road.

Arne Slot’s defending Premier League champions looked destined for victory at Leeds as a rapid Hugo Ekitike brace put the Reds 2-0 up five minutes into the second half.

Daniel Farke’s Whites, though, recovered twice to eventually bag a 3-3 draw but the bookmakers strongly believe that Slots’ Reds will exact their revenge back on home soil.

Despite having suffered two league defeats at Anfield so far this season to Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, Slot’s side have been chalked up as strong odds-on favourites in being no bigger than 4-7 but as short as 4-9 with some firms.

Bournemouth also took a 2-2 draw from September’s clash at Anfield but Leeds can be backed at 18-5 to leave with a point and 11-2 to leave with a victory.

Fresh from his brace at Elland Road, Ekitike is considered the clear main danger to Farke’s Whites.

The striker is odds-on as an anytime scorer with most firms and no bigger than 21-20.

The Frenchman is a best-priced 15-4 favourite in the first goalscorer market in which the Reds have the first four players in Ekitike, Cody Gakpo (7s), Federico Chiesa (15-2) and Florian Wirtz (17-2). Whites no 9 Dominic Calvert-Lewin is next at 9s.

A 1-0 win for Liverpool is generally favourite in the correct score market at 15-2 although a 2-0 Reds win and also a 1-1 draw can also be backed at the same price with a few firms.

Leeds are 18-1 to leave with a 1-0 win and 2-1 success.