After the sport that had every thing, the match that had nothing. The rewards for both aspect had been the identical however, as Liverpool and Leeds reconvened 26 days after a outstanding 3-3 draw and a nonetheless extra memorable post-match interview, there was no six-goal second half. With Mohamed Salah on a unique continent, he was not round to accuse anybody of throwing him underneath the bus.
If a rematch had a historic significance, it lay solely within the statistical. In his 84th recreation in cost, this was Liverpool’s belated first 0-0 draw underneath ; certainly their first since 2023. Not that too lots of a Liverpool persuasion will have a good time that.
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Leeds may. Their defence shared a bunch hug after the ultimate whistle and such reminiscences which might be preserved from a largely forgettable encounter needs to be of the resilience of ’s more and more redoubtable aspect. Their unbeaten run stretches to 6 video games, two of them in opposition to Liverpool, and so they now have a seven-point hole to West Ham. “A very good day,” stated Farke. “It was all the time clear that we would wish a particular efficiency immediately to journey away with a degree.” He bought it.
If two managers are justifying boards who didn’t sack them when outcomes dried up, Liverpool felt frustration whilst they took their very own undefeated sequence to eight. “The tip results of each video games [against Leeds] is a draw and that is a disappointment,” stated Slot.
His aspect lacked creativity and a medical contact, urgency and the excellence required to finish Leeds’ resistance. Slot’s evaluation of what was lacking was succinct. “A objective,” he replied. He felt it may have come from a set-piece or a second of magic; Liverpool lacked the latter and solely posed one risk from the previous. “We had a whole lot of ball possession however ball possession means not quite a bit for those who can’t create sufficient possibilities,” he stated.
Maybe their night was summed up when Hugo Ekitike, a scorer twice within the 3-3, squandered Liverpool’s finest probability. The Frenchman misjudged and misdirected a header from a ball from Jeremie Frimpong that was extra wild shot than exact cross.
Hugo Ekitike was spectacular however not medical for Liverpool (AFP through Getty Photographs)
Ekitike was the central determine once more when Jaka Bijol weathered shouts for a penalty and a pink card when tugging the striker, who was advancing on objective. “He stayed on his toes,” rued Slot. “If he would have fallen down it will in all probability have been a penalty.” He believes his gamers might be too trustworthy in such conditions. “We’re simply who we’re. We keep on our toes,” he stated, insisting he wouldn’t encourage them to go to floor.
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No matter his points with officers, his crew had been too flat. Slot began with two right-backs, with Frimpong forward of Conor Bradley, and used three on the fitting, with Dominik Szoboszlai ending there. Frimpong was at the least brighter than most; Liverpool had lengthy envisaged utilizing him on the wing in the course of the African Cup of Nations and his acceleration supplied one hope of a breakthrough, even when his crossing is decidedly blended, because the summer time signing admitted himself.
Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri parried a long-range shot from Szoboszlai. On the eighth anniversary of his arrival, Virgil van Dijk headed simply extensive. In his bid for a breakthrough, Slot tried a triple change, bringing on Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Milos Kerkez. It was telling that Florian Wirtz, lastly a Liverpool scorer on Saturday however ineffective right here, was amongst these changed.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin had a objective disallowed for being offside (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
“We didn’t permit them clear-cut possibilities,” stated Farke, whose revamped aspect exuded solidity. Sebastiaan Bornauw made his first begin in a again 5. James Justin started for simply the second time. “A pat on the again for us,” stated the fitting wing-back. “A pat on the again for the administration employees.” Even with new faces, Leeds confirmed organisation and unity. “They defended rather well,” stated Frimpong.
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“A tough-fought however actually deserved clear sheet is sweet for the arrogance,” added Farke. He had benched the league’s in-form striker. In a cameo, nonetheless discovered the web in a seventh successive recreation, however was offside. His preliminary omission mirrored the sense that Leeds have a extra winnable match in opposition to Manchester United on Sunday. “I’ve to take care of him,” rationalised Farke. It stripped Leeds of a few of their risk, however not their grit.
Leeds celebrated a nicely earned draw at Anfield (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
As Farke famous, they did have a few early corners. That they had fewer thereafter. After the departure of set-piece coach Aaron Briggs, Liverpool didn’t actually must face trial by set-piece, which was in all probability a reduction.
“This season a number of instances we now have conceded a objective in a recreation like this and that is a constructive factor immediately that we saved a clear sheet,” stated Slot. It was endangered partly by his goalkeeper: Leeds’ most interesting probability was created by Alisson, who handed the ball straight to Ethan Ampadu however redeemed himself by saving the Leeds captain’s 30-yard shot. The Brazilian grew to become the fifth Liverpool goalkeeper to document 100 clear sheets within the league. But, like Slot’s maiden stalemate, it was not the day for them to take pleasure in a milestone.
