🔗 Share this article Leeds Keep Liverpool at Bay to Secure Valuable Draw at Anfield A pair of undefeated runs remained in place at Anfield, but solely one team could take real satisfaction from the result. Leeds United carried out a perfect strategy of frustrating and restricting the hosts, with the maiden scoreless draw of Arne Slot's reign underscoring the lingering limitations within the current champions' latest upturn. Defensive Display Earns Vital Result A drab scoreless stalemate, the first in 84 fixtures for Slot's team, was primarily attributable to the immense solidity of the outstanding centre-back pairing Struijk and Bijol, combined with the Anfield side's inability to break down a compact visitors' unit. The Merseysiders were reduced to hopeful opportunities, and a smattering of boos echoed around the stadium at the full-time whistle on a laboured performance. "If I do not use the whole group and we have a fixture list like this, I would not do this," the manager explained. "For a player like Dominic I have to protect him. We all are aware his recent history was challenging. He is in red-hot shape but it's vital I look after him and sometimes the head needs to prevail over the emotion." Liverpool's Struggle in the Final Third Arne Slot's team at first displayed more zip and precision than in previous matches, with the right wing-back prominent on the flank. However, clear-cut chances were scarce. Their best openings in the opening half fell to forward Hugo Ekitiké. After a neat exchange with Curtis Jones, the French international cut inside and drew a save from keeper Lucas Perri at his near post. The visitors' shot-stopper could not hold the shot, requiring a timely block from James Justin to stop Florian Wirtz tapping in the loose ball. Ekitiké later sprinted through onto a long ball but was held by Jaka Bijol; although not going down, his appeals for a penalty were dismissed. Missed Opportunities Are Pivotal Ekitiké's evening was compounded when he did not manage to hit the target with his clearest chance. Meeting a pacy Frimpong cross in the six-yard box, the striker misdirected a glance that struck the Perri while facing an open goal. For Leeds, their clearest sight of goal arrived from an Liverpool goalkeeper mistake. The experienced shot-stopper played a careless clearance straight to midfielder Ethan Ampadu, whose first-time shot back down the centre was gathered by the alert Alisson. Scrappy Final Stages The match deteriorated into a scrappy encounter, devoid on incident. The midfielder, back from a ban, forced a save from Perri from range. The resulting rebound led to Ampadu handling the ball, giving Liverpool a set-piece in a dangerous position, which Wirtz wasted into the wall. The Liverpool manager introduced a triple change to bring urgency, and soon after Virgil van Dijk went agonisingly close to nodding his team in ahead from a corner, his effort bouncing just past the post. Late introduction Dominic Calvert-Lewin believed he had continued his goal streak for the visitors in the final stages, but his finish was flagged out for a marginal offside call. Ultimately, the two sides had to accept a single of the points.