🔗 Share this article The Whites Keep The Reds at Bay to Earn Hard-Fought Point at Anfield A pair of undefeated runs remained in place at Anfield, but solely one side could derive genuine contentment from the result. Leeds United executed a perfect strategy of stifling and containing Liverpool, with the maiden scoreless draw of Arne Slot's tenure highlighting the lingering issues behind the current champions' recent recovery. Defensive Masterclass Earns Vital Point A drab scoreless draw, the initial in 84 fixtures for Slot's team, was primarily due to the immense solidity of the excellent defensive duo Jaka Bijol and Pascal Struijk, coupled with the Anfield side's inability to unlock a well-drilled Leeds unit. Liverpool were limited to hopeful opportunities, and a sprinkling of discontent echoed around the famous ground at the full-time signal on a laboured display. "If I don't use the entire group and we have a fixture list like this, I would never do this," Daniel Farke explained. "For a player like Dominic I have to protect him. We all are aware his past couple of years was challenging. He is in incredible form but it's important I manage him and sometimes the mind needs to win over the emotion." Liverpool's Frustration in Front of Goal Arne Slot's team at first displayed more zip and sharpness than in previous outings, with the right wing-back prominent on the flank. However, clear-cut chances were few and far between. Their best moments in the opening period fell to forward Hugo Ekitiké. After a smart one-two with Curtis Jones, the France forward drifted infield and forced a stop from goalkeeper Lucas Perri at his front post. The Leeds' goalkeeper could not hold the effort, requiring a crucial intervention from James Justin to stop Florian Wirtz converting the loose ball. Ekitiké later raced clear onto a long ball but was held by Jaka Bijol; despite not going down, his appeals for a penalty were waved away. Spurned Chances Prove Pivotal Ekitiké's evening was compounded when he did not manage to hit the net with his best chance. Meeting a swift Frimpong delivery in the goal area, the striker miscued a header that struck the Perri while with an unguarded net. At the other end, their clearest opportunity arrived from an Liverpool goalkeeper mistake. The Brazilian shot-stopper played a wayward clearance straight to disruptor Ethan Ampadu, whose first-time effort back down the centre was saved by the alert Alisson. Scrappy Final Stages The contest deteriorated into a bitty encounter, low on incident. Dominik Szoboszlai, back from suspension, forced a save from Perri from distance. The resulting rebound resulted in Ampadu controlling the ball, giving the hosts a set-piece in a promising position, which Wirtz sent into the defence. The Liverpool manager made a three substitution to inject urgency, and soon after Virgil van Dijk went agonisingly close to nodding his team in ahead from a set-piece, his effort bouncing just wide the post. Late introduction Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had continued his goal streak for the visitors in the final minutes, but his finish was ruled out for a tight offside. Ultimately, the two teams had to accept a share of the spoils.