Yorkshire's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
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.
Leeds United's Sebastiaan Bornauw (centre) in action during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.placeholder image
Leeds United's Sebastiaan Bornauw (centre) in action during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
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.
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (right) and Leeds United's Lukas Nmecha (left) battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.placeholder image
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (right) and Leeds United's Lukas Nmecha (left) battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
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.
Calvert-Lewin was eventually called for. He put the ball in the net, but did not become just the 15th player to score in seven successive Premier League matches due to an offside flag. But there was much succour elsewhere.
Liverpool: Allison; Bradley (Chiesa 79), Konate, van Dijk, Robertson (Kerkez 66); Gravenberch, Jones (Mac Allister 66); Frimpong (Ngumoha 85), Szoboszlai, Wirtz (Gakpo 66); Ekitike. Substitutes unused: Mamardashvili, Ramsay, Nyoni, Lucky.
Leeds United: Perri; Bornauw (Bogle 83), Bijol, Struijk; Justin, Gruev (Tanaka 92), Ampadu, Stach, Gudmundsson; Aaronson (Okafor 70); Nmecha (Calvert-Lewin 70). Substitutes unused: Darlow, Byram, Harrison, Gnonto, Piroe.
Referee: C Kavanagh (Ashton-under-Lyne).