Leeds United produced a magnificent defensive performance to keep Liverpool at bay and earn a 0-0 draw on Thursday. A slightly rotated whites outfit stood tall against the reigning Premier League champions to extend their unbeaten run to six games.
Leeds didn’t offer much going forward in the first-half but defended well, with chances few and far between. Hugo Ekitike had the hosts’ best opportunity, his close-range header eventually bouncing off Lucas Perri’s head, while Ethan Ampadu tested Alisson with a long-distance effort following a mistake from the goalkeeper.
Much of the second-half played out in similar fashion, with Leeds happy to defend and Liverpool struggling to create anything of note despite their dominance of possession. Farke’s side were pinned back a little more going into the closing stages but kept it tight, with an outstanding defensive performance earning them a point.
YEP chief football writer Graham Smyth was at Anfield to watch the action. Here are his Leeds United player ratings...
6 - Only a couple of saves to make, one of which he made a bit of a meal of. Kicking was hit and miss. Managed to eat up plenty of time. Dealt with crosses.
1. GK: Lucas Perri
6 - Only a couple of saves to make, one of which he made a bit of a meal of. Kicking was hit and miss. Managed to eat up plenty of time. Dealt with crosses. | Getty Images
9 - Lots of vital defending, lots of running, lots of physicality. Did well on the ball too. Looked solid at centre-back late on.
2. RWB: James Justin
9 - Lots of vital defending, lots of running, lots of physicality. Did well on the ball too. Looked solid at centre-back late on. | Getty Images
8 - Very steady for the vast majority of his full debut. Showed his aerial strength. Caused a few problems in the Liverpool area.
3. CB: Sebastiaan Bornauw
8 - Very steady for the vast majority of his full debut. Showed his aerial strength. Caused a few problems in the Liverpool area. | AFP via Getty Images
8 - Lots of physical defending and big headers. Fine on the ball. Just one worrying moment in the first half when he got wrong side in a wrestling match.
4. CB: Jaka Bijol
8 - Lots of physical defending and big headers. Fine on the ball. Just one worrying moment in the first half when he got wrong side in a wrestling match. | Getty Images
8 - Some good passing when the chance to get on the ball arose. Defended with urgency and aggression.
5. CB: Pascal Struijk
8 - Some good passing when the chance to get on the ball arose. Defended with urgency and aggression. | Getty Images
7 - Given a difficult first half by Frimpong but he stuck in there and got better as the game went on. Finished strongly.
6. LWB: Gabriel Gudmundsson
7 - Given a difficult first half by Frimpong but he stuck in there and got better as the game went on. Finished strongly. | AFP via Getty Images