Each side settled with a 0-0 draw at Anfield
Liverpool’s Conor Bradley in motion with Leeds United’s Gabriel Gudmundsson. Picture: REUTERS
LONDON:
Liverpool lacked the firepower to interrupt down a much-changed Leeds in a 0-0 draw at Anfield that wasted an opportunity to solidify their place within the Premier League prime 4.
Arne Slot’s males at the moment are 9 video games unbeaten, however have been made to pay for the most recent in a collection of lacklustre performances in that run as Leeds comfortably held out to tug seven factors away from the relegation zone.
The guests got here closest to profitable the sport as Dominic Calvert-Lewin fired in late on however was flagged offside.
A degree edges Liverpool three factors away from Chelsea and Manchester United within the battle for a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke had one eye on his facet’s conflict with fierce rivals Manchester United on Saturday as he left the in-form Calvert-Lewin on the bench amongst 4 modifications.
Liverpool have been with out Mohamed Salah because of his participation within the Africa Cup of Nations and the injured Alexander Isak.
The absence of the 2 prime scorers within the Premier League final season was felt because the Reds not often threatened to interrupt the impasse.
Hugo Ekitike wasted their finest probability when he utterly miscued his header from Jeremie Frimpong’s pushed cross with the objective gaping halfway by way of the primary half.
Leeds’ six-game unbeaten run that has hauled them away from the relegation zone has included two conferences with the Premier League champions.
In stark distinction to the 3-3 thriller between the edges simply over three weeks in the past, this time the defensive organisation of Daniel Farke’s males pissed off the Reds.
The guests have been inches away from taking all three factors as Calvert-Lewin nearly continued his goalscoring streak.
The previous Everton striker had scored in his six earlier video games and poked previous Alisson Becker 10 minutes from time however had strayed marginally offside to be denied his first objective at Anfield.
Annoyed Slot
Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot stated his facet’s dominance of possession counts for little with out “particular moments” of particular person brilliance after a toothless show in drawing 0-0 at residence to Leeds.
The Premier League champions at the moment are 9 video games unbeaten following a run of 9 defeats in 12 matches.
However Liverpool’s performances have usually not matched the ends in that upturn in fortune.
Slot’s facet loved almost 70 % possession at Anfield however missed the presence of the absent Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak.
“I feel we are the workforce that has essentially the most ball possession within the league this yr, however ball possession doesn’t imply quite a bit when you can not create sufficient probabilities,” stated Slot.
“To create probabilities towards the low block, you want tempo and particular person particular moments to create an overload.
“Not for the primary time this season, we noticed a workforce that needed it, attempting (onerous) but it surely was onerous for us to seek out the opening.”
A degree edges fourth-placed Liverpool three factors away from Chelsea and Manchester United within the battle for a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League.
Leeds stretched their unbeaten run to 6 video games to climb seven factors away from the relegation zone.
“It does not come alongside that always that you simply get a clear sheet and a degree at Anfield,” Leeds boss Daniel Farke instructed the BBC. “We needed to defend and endure however we’re newly promoted and got here to the defending champions.”
“Generally the pinnacle has to win over the guts,” Farke stated. “We had 4 Premier League fixtures in 10 days and I’ve to belief my entire squad. We all know what occurred to Dominic in the previous couple of years with accidents. General it was an indication of how a lot I belief the group.”
