🔗 Share this article Leeds Keep Liverpool at Bay to Earn Valuable Draw at Anfield A pair of unbeaten records remained in place at Anfield, but solely one team could take genuine contentment from the result. Leeds United carried out a perfect game plan of frustrating and restricting the hosts, with the first goalless draw of Arne Slot's reign underscoring the persistent limitations within the reigning title holders' recent recovery. Resolute Display Earns Crucial Point A lacklustre scoreless stalemate, the first in 84 matches for Slot's team, was largely due to the defensive dominance of the excellent centre-back pairing Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk, combined with the home side's failure to unlock a compact visitors' defence. Liverpool were reduced to speculative opportunities, and a sprinkling of boos could be heard around the stadium at the final signal on a sluggish display. "If I do not use the entire group and we have a schedule like this, I would not make changes," the manager explained. "With a footballer 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 mind needs to prevail over the emotion." Liverpool's Frustration in the Final Third Arne Slot's team initially showed more energy and precision than in previous matches, with the right wing-back influential on the right side. Nevertheless, golden chances were few and far between. Their primary moments in the first period fell to striker Hugo Ekitiké. Following a neat exchange with Curtis Jones, the France forward cut inside and drew a save from keeper Lucas Perri at his near post. The visitors' goalkeeper spilled the shot, needing a crucial block from James Justin to stop Florian Wirtz tapping in the loose ball. Ekitiké later sprinted through onto a ball over the top but was impeded by Jaka Bijol; although not going down, his shouts for a penalty were waved away. Spurned Chances Are Pivotal Ekitiké's afternoon worsened when he did not manage to hit the net with his clearest chance. Meeting a swift Frimpong cross in the six-yard box, the attacker misdirected a glance that hit the Perri while facing an unguarded net. At the other end, their most notable opportunity arrived from an Liverpool goalkeeper error. The experienced shot-stopper sent a careless clearance directly to midfielder Ethan Ampadu, whose instant effort back down the centre was gathered by the alert goalkeeper. Scrappy Conclusion The match descended into a bitty affair, low on quality. The midfielder, back from suspension, tested Perri from distance. The resulting rebound resulted in Ampadu handling the ball, awarding Liverpool a free-kick in a promising area, which Wirtz sent into the wall. Slot made a three 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 past the post. Late introduction Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had continued his scoring run for the visitors in the final minutes, but his tap-in was ruled out for a marginal offside. Ultimately, both teams had to accept a single of the points.