A muted atmosphere settled over Anfield at the final whistle as Liverpool were held to a 0–0 draw by newly promoted Leeds United, drawing boos from sections of the home crowd.
While the result extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run to eight matches under manager Arne Slot, the performance itself left many fans underwhelmed. It was the Reds’ first goalless draw since December 2023 — a rare outcome at Anfield — but one that exposed growing frustrations around the team’s style and attacking sharpness.
For a fanbase accustomed to high-octane football during the Jurgen Klopp era and Slot’s title-winning debut season, the display felt flat. Against a Leeds side disciplined in a compact 5-4-1 shape, Liverpool struggled to find rhythm or incision, often resorting to predictable wide play without end product.
The only consistent spark came from Jeremie Frimpong, whose pace troubled Leeds’ defence, but his final delivery failed to unlock the visitors. Clear chances were scarce, and despite registering 19 attempts on goal, only four tested the goalkeeper.
One BBC Sport reader summed up the mood bluntly:
“Liverpool still look like there’s a piece missing. Heavy metal football this is not — it’s not even aluminium foil football.”
From Leeds’ perspective, the plan worked perfectly. Manager Daniel Farke instructed his side to clog central areas and invite Liverpool wide — a tactic that neutralised the hosts effectively. Despite Liverpool posting an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.96, their highest at Anfield without scoring since April 2024, they never truly looked convincing.
Slot was pragmatic in his post-match assessment.
“What was missing? A goal — that’s the simplest answer,” he said. “We dominate possession, but against a low block that means nothing if you don’t create enough.”
Liverpool’s best chance came when Hugo Ekitike headed wide from close range, a miss made harder by the pace of the cross. Former Reds striker Daniel Sturridge suggested fixture congestion may have played a role, pointing to fatigue and a lack of sharpness in the final third.
Slot also addressed a controversial moment involving Ekitike, who stayed on his feet under a challenge in the box.
“If he goes down, maybe it’s a penalty,” Slot admitted. “But we don’t encourage players to fall. We stay on our feet — that’s who we are.”
While that philosophy earned respect, it did little to ease fan concerns. Liverpool sit fourth in the table — a solid position given their season — but performances like this underline a growing issue. Control without creativity is no longer enough, and unless solutions arrive soon, Anfield’s patience may wear even thinner.
