Two unbeaten records were maintained at Anfield but only one team took satisfaction along with their point. Leeds succeeded in stifling and frustrating Liverpool as the first goalless draw of Arne Slot’s reign underlined the limitations that linger behind the Premier League champions’ recent recovery.
A drab scoreless draw, the first in 84 Liverpool games under Slot, owed much to the defensive excellence of Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk as Daniel Farke’s depleted visitors extended their unbeaten run to six matches and moved seven points clear of the relegation zone. But Liverpool’s contribution to a meagre spectacle was significant too.
Short on ideas against Leeds’s low block, lacking urgency plus a clear attacking structure in the closing stages, Slot’s side toiled for much of the contest. There was a smattering of boos as the final whistle sounded on a ponderous performance and Slot’s post-match demeanour was not in keeping with an eighth match without defeat. “We had a lot of ball possession but that doesn’t mean a lot if you can’t create a lot of chances,” admitted the Liverpool head coach.
Farke sprang a surprise by leaving Dominic Calvert-Lewin out of his starting lineup. The in-form forward had scored seven goals in six games but, given his injury record, the Leeds manager took no chances with a player who has become integral to this season’s ambitions. That sensible approach was undermined by the limited contribution of Calvert-Lewin’s replacement, Lukas Nmecha, for the 70 minutes he was on the pitch before the pair swapped places again. Calvert-Lewin scored shortly after his late introduction but, having beaten Alisson from close range, the striker’s celebrations were derailed by a correct offside call.
Liverpool struggled when Farke switched to 4-3-3 during the recent 3-3 draw at Elland Road. Containment was the priority at Anfield with a 3-5-2 formation and, a few Hugo Ekitiké scares aside, Leeds delivered. Liverpool dominated possession with Jeremie Frimpong prominent on the right. There was more zip and precision to Liverpool’s play than of late – initially at least – but clearcut chances were limited throughout.
Leeds were almost caught out by Ibrahima Konaté’s long ball. Ekitike sprinted clear of Bijol, who held the forward as he advanced into the area. Ekitiké stayed on his feet and squared to Florian Wirtz, who was denied by an important interception by James Justin. The striker’s appeals for a spot-kick were dismissed. The penalty was not given, Slot said, “because he stayed on his feet. If he had fallen down it would probably have been a penalty but I can see why he didn’t because so many times this season we were fouled in the box and did not get a penalty.”
Ekitiké’s mood was not helped by failing to hit the target with his best opportunity. After Frimpong retrieved an Andy Robertson cross and pinged a ball back into the Leeds’s six-yard box, the striker miscued a header that struck Lucas Perri while facing an open goal. Frimpong’s cross arrived at pace and Ekitiké was probably surprised that it reached him, but a player of his quality would expect to score.
Leeds’s clearest chance arrived courtesy of an Alisson mistake. The Liverpool keeper sprayed a clearance straight to Ethan Ampadu, an effective disruptor, who sent a first time shot back down the centre of goal. The Brazilian recovered in time to spare his own blushes. A consolation for Alisson, and they were thin on the ground overall, was the 100th clean sheet of his Liverpool league career. He became only the fifth goalkeeper in the club’s rich history to reach that milestone after Ray Clemence, Bruce Grobbelaar, Pepe Reina and Elisha Scott.
The contest descended into a scrappy affair, low on quality and incident. Dominik Szoboszlai tested Perri from distance. The keeper parried his effort and Ampadu handled while attempting to clear the rebound, gifting Liverpool a free-kick 19 yards out. Wirtz’s lame effort, clipped straight into the Leeds wall, encapsulated proceedings. Ampadu was booked for the handball and will miss Sunday’s game against Manchester United through suspension.
Slot made a triple substitution in the 66th minute to inject more urgency into the Liverpool display. Moments later Virgil van Dijk almost marked the eighth anniversary of officially signing for Liverpool by heading his team in front from a Szoboszlai corner. A textbook header bounced just wide of Perri’s top corner. Leeds were dangerous in the closing stages and, after Calvert-Lewin’s disallowed effort, Anton Stach shot wastefully over. A New Year’s Day to forget.
