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A pair of unbeaten records continued intact at Anfield, however only one side could take real satisfaction from the result. Daniel Farke's men executed a perfect game plan of stifling and containing the hosts, with the first goalless draw of Arne Slot's reign underscoring the persistent issues behind the reigning champions' latest recovery.

Defensive Masterclass Earns Crucial Point

A drab scoreless draw, the initial in 84 matches for Liverpool, was largely attributable to the defensive dominance of the outstanding defensive duo Struijk and Bijol, coupled with the Anfield side's failure to unlock a compact Leeds defence. Liverpool were limited to speculative opportunities, and a smattering of boos echoed around the stadium at the final whistle on a sluggish display.

"Should I do not utilise the whole squad and we have a schedule like this, I would not 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 red-hot shape but it's vital I manage him and sometimes the head needs to win over the emotion."

The Hosts' Frustration in the Final Third

Arne Slot's team initially displayed more zip and precision than in previous outings, with the right wing-back influential on the right side. However, clear-cut opportunities were few and far between. The home side's best moments in the first period involved forward Hugo Ekitiké.

• After a neat one-two with Curtis Jones, the French international cut inside and forced a save from keeper Lucas Perri at his front post.
• The Leeds' goalkeeper could not hold the shot, requiring a crucial block from James Justin to prevent Florian Wirtz tapping in the rebound.
• Ekitiké later sprinted through onto a ball over the top but was impeded by Jaka Bijol; despite staying on his feet, his appeals for a spot-kick were waved away.

Missed Chances Are Costly

Ekitiké's afternoon worsened when he failed to find the target with his best opening. Connecting with a pacy Frimpong delivery in the goal area, the attacker miscued a header that hit the Perri while with an unguarded net.

At the other end, their most notable sight of goal arrived from an Alisson mistake. The Brazilian keeper played a wayward pass straight to midfielder Ethan Ampadu, whose first-time shot back down the centre was gathered by the recovering Alisson.

Scrappy Final Stages

The contest descended into a bitty encounter, low on quality. The midfielder, returning from suspension, tested Perri from distance. The resulting scramble led to Ampadu handling the ball, awarding Liverpool a set-piece in a promising position, which Wirtz wasted into the wall.

Slot introduced a three change to bring urgency, and moments later Virgil van Dijk came close to nodding his side in front from a set-piece, his effort flying just past the post.

Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had extended his scoring run for Leeds in the final minutes, but his finish was flagged out for a marginal offside call. Ultimately, both sides had to accept a single of the points.