Leeds United will start 2026 with a New Year’s Day trip to Liverpool but seven men have been ruled out of the contest for which three more are doubtful.
The Reds and Whites will meet for the second time in the space of four weeks in a 5.30pm kick-off on Thursday on the first day of 2026.
The two sides shared a thrilling 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture at Elland Road at the start of the month but both sides have suffered injury blows to key players since.
Added to pre-existing longer term injuries, it’s led to a long list of seven out and three doubts across both sides.
Here, we run through the early injury and team news from both camps which also includes five more returning.
7. OUT: Alexander Isak
Another massive name missing for the Reds, the club's record £125m signing suffering an ankle injury which included a fibula fracture when scoring in the 2-1 win at Tottenham just before Christmas. Isak has since had surgery and is continuing his rehab but no timeframe has yet been placed on his return although boss Arne Slot thinks the striker is looking at a couple of months out. | Getty Images
8. OUT: Wataru Endo
Liverpool's versatile Japanese international midfielder Endo got seven minutes from the bench in the 3-3 draw at Elland Road but then suffered a minor ankle injury which was expected to keep him out until mid-January. | Getty Images
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9. OUT: Giovanni Leoni
Liverpool forked out £26m plus add-ons to sign highly-rated Italian youth international centre-back Leoni from Parma in the summer but the 19-year-old suffered the crushing blow of tearing his ACL in September's debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup. The teenager is expected to be looking at around a year out. | Getty Images
10. OUT: Stefan Bajcetic
Liverpool's young Spanish midfielder Bajcetic has been out since May with a hamstring injury. It remains unclear when the 21-year-old will return. | Getty Images
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11. OUT: Jayden Danns
Young Reds forward Danns suffered a hamstring injury in September's Premier League 2 clash against Ipswich Town, after which 21s boss Rob Page said he could be looking at a couple of months out. Danns has yet to feature since although he has reportedly been back out on the grass again with a view to returning in the new year. | Getty Images
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12. OUT: Dan James
Whites winger James suffered a hamstring tendon injury in the 3-2 defeat at Manchester City at the end of last month and there were fears James would need surgery. The winger thankfully does not need to go under the knife but Whites boss Farke thinks the winger is still looking at around eight weeks out in total before he can return to training. | Getty Images