🔗 Share this article Leeds Keep Liverpool at Arm's Length to Secure Hard-Fought Point at Anfield A pair of unbeaten runs remained intact at Anfield, but only one team could take real contentment from the outcome. Daniel Farke's men carried out a perfect strategy of stifling and restricting the hosts, with the first goalless draw of Arne Slot's tenure underscoring the persistent limitations within the reigning champions' recent recovery. Defensive Masterclass Earns Crucial Result A lacklustre goalless stalemate, the initial in 84 fixtures for Liverpool, was largely due to the immense solidity of the outstanding defensive duo Struijk and Bijol, coupled with the home side's inability to break down a compact visitors' defence. The Merseysiders were reduced to speculative half-chances, and a smattering of boos echoed around the famous ground at the full-time signal on a sluggish performance. "Should I don't use the entire group and we have a fixture list like this, I would never make changes," the manager explained. "With a footballer like Dominic I have to protect him. We all know his past history was challenging. He is in red-hot shape but it's vital I manage him and sometimes the mind needs to win over the heart." The Hosts' Struggle in the Final Third Arne Slot's team at first displayed more energy and precision than in previous outings, with Jeremie Frimpong influential on the right side. Nevertheless, golden opportunities were few and far between. Their primary openings in the first period involved forward Hugo Ekitiké. After a neat exchange with Curtis Jones, the French international cut inside and forced a save from keeper Lucas Perri at his front post. The visitors' shot-stopper spilled the shot, requiring a timely intervention from James Justin to stop Florian Wirtz tapping in the rebound. Ekitiké later sprinted clear onto a long ball but was impeded by Jaka Bijol; although not going down, his shouts for a spot-kick were waved away. Spurned Opportunities Prove Costly Ekitiké's afternoon worsened when he did not manage to hit the net with his clearest chance. Meeting a swift Frimpong cross in the goal area, the striker miscued a glance that hit the goalkeeper while facing an open goal. At the other end, their most notable sight of goal arrived from an Alisson mistake. The experienced keeper played a careless pass straight to midfielder Ethan Ampadu, whose instant effort returned towards goal was saved by the recovering goalkeeper. Turgid Conclusion The contest deteriorated into a bitty affair, devoid on quality. The midfielder, back from suspension, tested Perri from distance. The resulting scramble led to Ampadu handling the ball, awarding the hosts a free-kick in a promising area, which Wirtz wasted into the wall. The Liverpool manager introduced a three substitution to inject urgency, and soon after Virgil van Dijk went agonisingly close to nodding his team in front 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 final stages, but his tap-in was ruled out for a tight offside call. In the end, the two sides had to settle for a single of the spoils.