Jurgen Klopp has already warned Liverpool about Dominic Calvert-Lewin ahead of Leeds game

Liverpool faces Leeds on New Year's Day and an old foe will be on the opposite side, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin returning to Merseyside in a rich vein of form

Dominic Calvert-Lewin is flying for Leeds(Image: 2025 Malcolm Bryce)

Liverpool will be looking to extend its seven-game unbeaten run when Leeds visits Anfield on New Year's Day.

The Reds have turned their form around in recent weeks, after a torrid sequence of results earlier in the season when they went on a run of losing nine out of 12 games in all competitions.

Arne Slot's men will be the heavy favorites against Leeds on Thursday, but Daniel Farke's men are no longer the soft touch that they were a few weeks ago.

Leeds started to show signs of life with a resolute performance – albeit in defeat – at Manchester City at the end of November, and the Whites have not lost since.

Wins against Chelsea and Crystal Palace, as well as draws with Liverpool, Brentford and Sunderland have moved Leeds onto 20 points – seven clear of the relegation zone.

Key to Leeds' upturn has been the blistering form of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored in each of his last six appearances for the club.

Only Erling Haaland, Igor Thiago and Antoine Semenyo have scored more Premier League goals this season than Calvert-Lewin, and his revival has come as something of a surprise considering his struggle for goals during his final few seasons at Everton.

When Calvert-Lewin joined Leeds in the summer, many thought that his best days were behind him, with the player having not tallied double figures for goals since the 2020-21 season.

The following campaign, Calvert-Lewin struggled with injuries, and ahead of a Merseyside derby from which he was absent due to injury, Jurgen Klopp made it clear just how highly he rated the now 28-year-old.

Calvert-Lewin endured a disappointing final few seasons at Everton

“If you cannot use Calvert-Lewin for almost a whole season, it’s a massive blow,” Klopp said. “He’s one of the best strikers in England, for sure.”

That was nearly four years ago, and it's been a long time since Calvert-Lewin was widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the country.

He will have to keep up his current form for a little while yet before he can be considered to be firmly among the Premier League's elite once more, but he is making his mark at Leeds in a way that few expected him to.

A hostile reception will undoubtedly await the former Toffee at Anfield later this week, but he will arrive full of confidence and keen to get one over on an old enemy.