For their part, the Elland Road outfit know that three points would take them five clear of the bottom four, and with Daniel Farke's side unbeaten in their last five Premier League games, the match might prove to be a little trickier than the Reds expect.
Leeds have already fired a warning to Liverpool
One of those five games was an exciting 3-3 draw in Yorkshire, so Arne Slot and his side can't say they haven't been warned as to what Leeds are capable of if they're underestimated.
That said, it's likely to be a tall order for the visitors because a victory would mean the first time in their history that Leeds will have won back-to-back matches at Anfield. What's more, Liverpool haven't lost a New Year's Day fixture since 2005 against Chelsea.
Just one of Leeds' last 16 away games against reigning top-flight champions has been won too (D5, L10), with Mark Viduka's late winner against Arsenal in a 3-2 win in May 2003 being the last time they achieved that feat.
Their last New Year's Day win came against Birmingham City in 2024, whilst it's the first top-flight game on January 1st that Leeds have had since 2003.
No away wins since September
The Whites also haven't won an away game this season since September against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and will be out to end a six-match away winless streak.
Despite history being against them, it's important to note that Leeds haven't lost in their last 10 league matches played in January (W6, D4), and only Arsenal's current 11-game unbeaten streak in the first month of the year can top the Whites' record in this regard.
Liverpool have had their own troubles this season, but they have lost just twice at Anfield in nine top-flight games in 2025/26.
Furthermore, they've now hit a bit of a purple patch in terms of form, having won their last three matches, against Brighton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves.
Only two of their previous 10 league fixtures were victories, indicating Slot has seen his team finally turn the corner.
Wirtz finally coming good?
One player who has taken time to settle into his new surroundings is Florian Wirtz. However, the German has managed a goal and an assist in his last two matches, after not producing any of either in his previous 15 in the Premier League.
That small upturn in form couldn't have come at a better time for Liverpool, given that Mohamed Salah remains on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt, and Alexander Isak is out for the foreseeable future after sustaining a leg fracture when scoring against Spurs.
Cody Gakpo will almost certainly partner Hugo Ekitike, with the latter's eight goals the most from a Reds point of view, and third most in the English top-flight this season.
The Dutchman, meanwhile, might be looking to continue his new year scoring form after netting in the first games of 2024 and 2025 against Newcastle United and Man Utd, respectively.
Were he to do so again, he would equal the feat of Liverpool legend Ian Rush, who managed to score in the first games of 1985, 1986 and 1987 for the club.
With 19 goals scored in Liverpool's last five Premier League matches against Leeds (W3 D1 L1), Gakpo might have a chance at doing just that and writing himself into Reds' history.
Calvert-Lewin a true fox in the box
At the opposite end of the pitch, Leeds have become very reliant on the goalscoring prowess of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
In the space of half a dozen games, he's firmly ensconced himself as the Elland Road faithful's new cult hero, and his strike against Sunderland was the sixth league game in a row in which he's found the net.
Impressively, not since 1959/60 had a Leeds player (John McCole) managed to do that, and only 11 players in English top-flight history have completed such a feat.
Perhaps uniquely, all of his eight league goals this season have come from within the area that is virtually the dead centre of the goal, indicating that the hosts' purpose may be better served if they can move him left and right of the uprights.
The Englishman, given the form he's in, might well fancy his chances up against a Liverpool back line that have been shown to be more than a little nervous this season when consistent pressure is applied against them.
Joe Rodon's injury rules him out of this one, and that could upset the visitors' defensive balance in a game where, whilst not a must-win at this stage, three points will be very welcome indeed.
