Paul Merson agrees with Chris Sutton on Liverpool vs Leeds prediction

Paul Merson has backed Liverpool to begin 2026 with a victory over Leeds United — and he is in agreement with fellow pundit Chris Sutton ahead of Thursday’s Premier League clash at Anfield.

The Liverpool host Leeds United looking to extend their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions, with Arne Slot’s side slowly rebuilding momentum after a turbulent spell earlier in the season.

Liverpool have climbed back into the Premier League’s top four after successive wins over Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, though concerns remain — particularly around their vulnerability from set-pieces, which has been among the worst records in Europe’s top five leagues.

The Reds will also be keen to atone for their dramatic 3-3 draw at Elland Road earlier this month, when they surrendered leads of 2-0 and 3-2 against Daniel Farke’s side.

Since that encounter, Leeds have remained unbeaten, drawing with Brentford and Sunderland, either side of a convincing 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Despite Leeds’ improved form, Paul Merson expects Liverpool to avoid a repeat of their earlier collapse and come out on top at Anfield.

Predicting a 3-1 home win, Merson told Sportskeeda: “Leeds have turned a corner now and Liverpool are finding some form. Both teams will feel confident ahead of this game. The last time they met was a few weeks ago and Leeds produced an incredible performance in a 3-3 draw at Elland Road.

“Including that draw, Leeds have two wins and three draws in their last five games. Even though they drew the last game against Sunderland, I think they deserved to win that one! Leeds are on a roll now.”

Merson also highlighted the potential wider implications in the title race, though he warned against looking too far ahead.

“If Liverpool win this and beat Fulham away, and Arsenal drop points against Aston Villa… they would have gained five points on the Gunners. But Liverpool must not think too ahead — they need to take care of the next two games first.”

Former striker Chris Sutton was slightly more conservative with his scoreline, tipping Liverpool for a 2-1 victory in his BBC Sport predictions.

“I correctly backed Leeds to get a point when these sides met at Elland Road a few weeks back,” Sutton said, “but this is at Anfield and, besides that, Liverpool look a lot more confident now.”

Sutton acknowledged Leeds’ growing belief and singled out Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has scored seven goals in his last six games, as a major threat.

However, he also pointed to Liverpool’s improving attacking rhythm.

“Florian Wirtz seems to be coming to the fore for Liverpool now and they are building their confidence back up,” Sutton added. “Although you can still see weaknesses, I’m expecting them to make it four league wins in a row here.”

Sutton also noted that Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures will offer a clearer indication of where they truly stand, with trips to Fulham and Arsenal to follow.

“It is not actually impossible that they could be back in the title race soon either,” he said. “After this game… let’s see where they are then.”

A win over Leeds would not only extend Liverpool’s unbeaten run but also strengthen their grip on a top-four place as the New Year begins. With confidence returning and pundits united in their backing, Slot’s side have a clear opportunity to set the tone for 2026.

Do you agree with Merson and Sutton — or can Leeds frustrate Liverpool again at Anfield?