🔗 Share this article The Whites Keep The Reds at Arm's Length to Earn Valuable Point at Anfield Two undefeated runs remained in place at Anfield, but solely one side could take real satisfaction from the outcome. Leeds United carried out a perfect game plan of stifling and restricting Liverpool, with the first scoreless draw of Arne Slot's reign underscoring the persistent limitations within the current champions' latest upturn. Defensive Masterclass Secures Crucial Point A drab goalless draw, the initial in 84 matches for Slot's team, was largely attributable to the immense dominance of the excellent centre-back pairing Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk, combined with the Anfield side's failure to break down a compact Leeds defence. The Merseysiders were limited to hopeful half-chances, and a sprinkling of discontent echoed around the famous ground at the full-time signal on a laboured performance. "Should I do not utilise the entire group and we have a fixture list like this, I would never do this," Daniel Farke stated. "With a footballer like Dominic I have to protect him. We all are aware his past couple of years was challenging. He is in incredible shape but it's vital I look after him and sometimes the mind needs to win over the emotion." The Hosts' Frustration in the Final Third Liverpool at first displayed more zip and sharpness than in previous outings, with the right wing-back prominent on the flank. Nevertheless, clear-cut opportunities were scarce. The home side's primary openings in the opening half fell to forward Hugo Ekitiké. Following a neat exchange with Curtis Jones, the France forward cut inside and drew a stop from keeper Lucas Perri at his front post. The visitors' goalkeeper could not hold the effort, requiring a timely intervention from James Justin to prevent Florian Wirtz tapping in the loose ball. Ekitiké later raced through onto a long ball but was impeded by Jaka Bijol; despite staying on his feet, his appeals for a penalty were waved away. Spurned Opportunities Are Pivotal Ekitiké's evening was compounded when he did not manage to hit the target with his best chance. Meeting a pacy Frimpong cross in the goal area, the attacker misdirected a glance that struck the goalkeeper while with an open goal. At the other end, their most notable sight of goal came from an Liverpool goalkeeper error. The Brazilian keeper sent a wayward pass straight to midfielder Ethan Ampadu, whose instant shot back down the centre was gathered by the recovering goalkeeper. Turgid Final Stages The match descended into a bitty affair, devoid on quality. The midfielder, returning from suspension, tested Perri from distance. The subsequent scramble resulted in Ampadu controlling the ball, awarding Liverpool a free-kick in a promising area, which Wirtz sent into the defence. Slot introduced a three substitution to bring impetus, and soon after Virgil van Dijk came close to nodding his team in front from a corner, his header flying just past the post. Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had continued his goal run for Leeds in the final stages, but his finish was ruled out for a marginal offside call. In the end, the two teams had to settle for a single of the points.