🔗 Share this article Leeds Keep Liverpool at Bay to Earn Valuable Point at Anfield A pair of undefeated records remained intact at Anfield, but solely one side could take genuine satisfaction from the outcome. Leeds United executed a textbook game plan of frustrating and restricting Liverpool, with the maiden scoreless draw of Arne Slot's tenure highlighting the persistent issues within the current champions' recent upturn. Defensive Masterclass Earns Crucial Result A lacklustre goalless stalemate, the first in 84 matches for Slot's team, was primarily due to the defensive solidity of the excellent centre-back pairing Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk, coupled with the home side's failure to unlock a compact Leeds unit. The Merseysiders were limited to hopeful opportunities, and a sprinkling of discontent could be heard around the stadium at the full-time whistle on a sluggish performance. "Should I don't use the entire squad and we have a schedule like this, I would never make changes," Daniel Farke stated. "For a player like Dominic I have to look after him. We all are aware his recent couple of years was difficult. He is in red-hot shape but it's vital I look after him and sometimes the head needs to win over the heart." The Hosts' Struggle in Front of Goal Arne Slot's team initially displayed more energy and sharpness than in recent matches, with the right wing-back prominent on the right side. Nevertheless, golden opportunities were few and far between. The home side's primary openings in the opening half fell to forward Hugo Ekitiké. After a smart exchange with Curtis Jones, the France forward drifted infield and drew a stop from keeper Lucas Perri at his near post. The visitors' goalkeeper spilled the effort, needing a timely intervention from James Justin to prevent Florian Wirtz tapping in the loose ball. Ekitiké later sprinted through onto a ball over the top but was impeded by Jaka Bijol; although staying on his feet, his shouts for a penalty were dismissed. Spurned Chances Are Costly Ekitiké's evening worsened when he did not manage to find the net with his best chance. Connecting with a swift Frimpong cross in the goal area, the striker misdirected a header that hit the Perri while with an unguarded net. At the other end, their clearest sight of goal arrived from an Liverpool goalkeeper mistake. The Brazilian shot-stopper sent a careless clearance straight to midfielder Ethan Ampadu, whose first-time shot returned towards goal was saved by the alert goalkeeper. Scrappy Conclusion The match descended into a scrappy affair, low on quality. The midfielder, back from suspension, tested Perri from distance. The resulting scramble resulted in Ampadu controlling the ball, awarding the hosts a free-kick in a dangerous position, which Wirtz wasted into the defence. Slot introduced a three substitution to bring urgency, and soon after Virgil van Dijk went agonisingly close to heading his side in front from a corner, his header bouncing just past the post. Late introduction Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had extended his goal streak for Leeds in the final minutes, but his finish was ruled out for a marginal offside. In the end, both teams had to accept a share of the points.