Liverpool 0 Leeds United 0: Excellent Whites secure outstanding point to start new year — Yorkshire Post 1/1/26
By Leon Wobschall
Liverpool 0 Leeds United 0 ANFIELD certainly has its place
in Leeds United's fabled history.
It was the venue where they famously secured their maiden
top-flight championship in April 1969 - complete with sporting chants of
'champions' from the Kop at the final whistle.
A victory for Liverpool against Manchester United also
famously confirmed the title for Leeds in the late spring of 1992 and while
there have also been some days to forget at L4 for the Whites, treasured
memories remain.
Their previous visit was a victorious - and dramatic - one
in October 2022. Ahead of their latest Anfield assignment, they were seeking a
milestone by way of consecutive wins here for the first time ever. It didn’t
transpire, but a point was highly commendable.
At half-time, Leeds were set fair, having more than matched
the hosts in a scoreless first-half which they would have gladly taken
beforehand.
The fireworks in the reverse fixture in early December were
exclusively reserved for an astonishing six-goal second period. There was no
repeat but United maintained their excellent game plan to stymie Liverpool and
register their best away result of the campaign to extend their unbeaten run to
six matches.
One negative for Leeds was a caution for a soft handball for
Ethan Ampadu, which rules him out of Sunday’s Roses stoush.
Daniel Farke’s team selection was striking with Sebastiaan
Bornauw handed a full league debut after making just two very brief substitute
appearances so far this term in the Premier League, with James Justin also
promoted.
Alongside the injured Joe Rodon, there was another
big-hitter conspicuous by his absence from the starting line-up in the shape of
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who dropped to the bench - with Sunday in mind.
At the break, it was Liverpool who had more issues to
contend with following a tactical success for committed and organised Leeds and
Farke.
The early signs were promising as confident Leeds,
aggressive in the press, started to stroke the ball around nicely enough and
possessed some threat on the counter to embolden themselves.
But it was Liverpool who had the game’s first meaty chance.
Hugo Ekitike beat Ampadu and worked it well with Curtis
Jones, before the striker’s low shot was coughed up by Lucas Perri ahead of the
loose ball being hacked. The loose ball was eventually hacked clear.
The hosts started to fancy it. Howls for a penalty soon
arrived after Jaka Bijol got shirty with danger man Ekitike before Justin made
a key block to deny Florian Wirtz.
Leeds regrouped in fairness and became encouraged again,
thanks to some sloppiness from Liverpool.
It should have been punished when a dozy pass out from the
back by Alisson went straight to Ampadu. With plenty of the goal to aim at, his
shot was fired straight at the relieved custodian instead of the inviting net.
At the other end, Liverpool then rued more causal play when
Ekitike got his angles horribly wrong with a header - with the goal gaping
following a cross from the lively Jeremie Frimpong.
Anfield was subdued and a touch nervy and the hosts’
unconvincing start to the second half only added to it.
Perri’s work extended to beating away Szoboszlai’s drive
before a bigger scare saw Virgil van Dijk’s header fly just wide.
