🔗 Share this article

Two unbeaten runs remained in place at Anfield, but only one side could derive real contentment from the result. Daniel Farke's men executed a perfect game plan of stifling and restricting the hosts, with the first goalless draw of Arne Slot's reign highlighting the persistent issues within the reigning title holders' recent recovery.

Defensive Display Secures Crucial Result

A drab scoreless draw, the first in 84 fixtures for Liverpool, was primarily due to the defensive solidity of the outstanding centre-back pairing Struijk and Bijol, combined with the home side's failure to unlock a well-drilled Leeds unit. Liverpool were limited to speculative opportunities, and a smattering of discontent could be heard around the famous ground at the full-time signal on a sluggish display.

"Should I do not utilise the whole group and we have a fixture list like this, I would never make changes," Daniel Farke explained. "With a footballer like Dominic I have to protect him. We all are aware his past history was difficult. He is in red-hot form but it's vital I manage him and sometimes the head needs to prevail over the emotion."

The Hosts' Struggle in the Final Third

Liverpool at first showed more zip and precision than in previous outings, with the right wing-back influential on the flank. Nevertheless, golden opportunities were scarce. The home side's primary openings in the opening half involved striker Hugo Ekitiké.

• After a neat one-two with Curtis Jones, the France international drifted infield and forced a stop from goalkeeper Lucas Perri at his near post.
• The Leeds' goalkeeper could not hold the effort, requiring a timely block from James Justin to stop Florian Wirtz tapping in the rebound.
• Ekitiké later sprinted through onto a ball over the top but was held by Jaka Bijol; although staying on his feet, his shouts for a penalty were waved away.

Spurned Opportunities Prove Costly

Ekitiké's evening worsened when he failed to hit the net with his clearest chance. Connecting with a swift Frimpong cross in the six-yard box, the attacker misdirected a glance that struck the goalkeeper while facing an unguarded net.

For Leeds, their clearest opportunity arrived from an Alisson mistake. The experienced shot-stopper played a careless clearance straight to disruptor Ethan Ampadu, whose instant effort returned down the centre was saved by the alert goalkeeper.

Scrappy Conclusion

The contest descended into a bitty affair, devoid on incident. Dominik Szoboszlai, back from suspension, forced a save from Perri from distance. The resulting rebound led to Ampadu handling the ball, awarding the hosts a set-piece in a dangerous area, which Wirtz wasted into the wall.

Slot introduced a triple change to bring impetus, and moments later Virgil van Dijk came close to heading his side in ahead from a set-piece, his effort bouncing just wide the post.

Late introduction Dominic Calvert-Lewin believed he had continued his scoring run for the visitors in the closing minutes, but his finish was flagged out for a marginal offside call. In the end, the two teams had to accept a share of the spoils.