Hugo Ekitike squandered a remarkable opportunity as Liverpool and Leeds played out a 0-0 draw, marking the first scoreless match under Arne Slot at Anfield as 2026 began.
The decisive moment arrived in the opening half when Jeremie Frimpong drove a powerful left-footed effort across goal. From barely a yard out, Ekitike somehow managed to divert the ball away from the net with a header, despite the target being completely unguarded.
Given the pace of Frimpong’s attempt, the finish appeared simpler than the outcome suggested, yet Liverpool were left stunned by a miss that summed up their evening.
That failure proved costly in a match where opportunities were scarce and clear openings even rarer.
Possession without penetration for Slot’s side
Liverpool enjoyed the majority of the ball but struggled badly to trouble Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri, producing a performance that again lacked intensity and invention.
The stalemate stretched Liverpool’s unbeaten sequence to eight fixtures and lifted them three points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, yet the display did little to inspire confidence. Remarkably, it was only the 84th match of Slot’s reign since summer 2024 to finish without a goal.
Aside from the Ekitike incident, Liverpool’s best moments included a Virgil van Dijk header that drifted wide after the interval and a first-half appeal for a penalty when Jaka Bijol appeared to impede Ekitike.
With 33 points from 19 matches, Liverpool sits fourth at the season’s midpoint. While results have stabilised after an earlier slump, the lack of urgency was evident, and boos at full-time reflected growing frustration among supporters accustomed to far more dynamic football.
Leeds’s resilience and belief continue to grow
Leeds once again demonstrated their defensive organisation and growing confidence, extending their unbeaten run to six matches and remaining seven points above the drop zone.
Daniel Farke chose to leave Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the bench, despite his strong scoring form, with an eye on Sunday’s meeting with Manchester United. That decision nearly backfired when the striker came on and finished calmly past Alisson late on, only for the effort to be ruled out for a marginal offside.
Earlier, Ethan Ampadu also had a chance to punish Liverpool after being gifted possession by Alisson but failed to convert with a first-time strike. Ampadu will miss the United clash after collecting his fifth caution of the campaign.
Still, Leeds looked comfortable even while conceding 68 percent possession, and after drawing 3-3 with Liverpool at Elland Road in December, they remain unbeaten against the reigning champions this season. The collective response with their travelling supporters after the final whistle underlined a side increasingly convinced it belongs at this level.
