Up to five players from both Leeds United and Liverpool may be unavailable for Saturday’s Premier League showdown at Elland Road.
Two managers under mounting pressure will meet in West Yorkshire this weekend as Leeds host Liverpool in a crucial fixture with significant implications for both sides.
Daniel Farke’s position has come under serious threat after Leeds slipped into the relegation zone, losing six of their last seven league matches. Senior figures at the club had reportedly begun sounding out potential replacements, with Gary O’Neil considered a leading candidate if results continued to worsen.
However, a dramatic 3-1 victory over Chelsea in midweek has eased the pressure slightly, though Farke still faces a major challenge with Liverpool now coming to Elland Road.
Arne Slot finds himself in a similarly difficult situation. Liverpool have managed just four wins in their last 14 games across all competitions, and Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland only increased the frustration surrounding the club.
Fortunately for both managers, the injury list is not overwhelming — but several key players remain unavailable or doubtful.
Leeds United Injuries
Daniel James
The Welsh winger will be sidelined for at least eight weeks after suffering a hamstring tendon injury in the defeat to Manchester City. Surgery is still being considered, which could prolong his absence through the entire festive period and possibly beyond.
Sean Longstaff
A major blow for Leeds, Longstaff has been one of their standout performers since arriving from Newcastle for £12 million. He picked up a calf injury against Aston Villa and will miss four to six weeks. He is ruled out of the Liverpool match and could sit out as many as nine league games.
Liverpool Injuries
Giovanni Leoni
The young Italian defender tore his ACL on his Liverpool debut against Southampton in September. After undergoing surgery, he is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
Jeremie Frimpong
The summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen is still recovering from a hamstring injury picked up in October’s Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt. Although he has returned to outdoor training, he is not expected back until mid-December at the earliest, ruling him out for the Leeds trip.
Conor Bradley
There is some optimism surrounding the Northern Ireland international. Bradley returned to partial team training on Monday after missing three matches with a muscle problem. Slot has indicated that he could be available for Elland Road but emphasised that his return must be managed carefully.
