Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Leeds United in a lacklustre performance at Anfield that saw the Reds fail to take advantage of their rivals dropping points.
Arne Slot's side hosted Leeds off the back of seven games unbeaten after the Reds eased the pressure on their underfire boss following a dismal start to the season. But Liverpool were again far from convincing against a resilient Leeds side.
Liverpool sacked set-piece coach Aaron Briggs on the eve of the Leeds game with the Reds suffering desperately from free-kicks, corners and balls into the box.
Liverpool were frustrated by Leeds (Image: Paul Currie/Shutterstock)
The Reds have been the worst team in the Premier League when it comes to defending and attacking from corners, free-kicks and throw-ins. No team in Europe's big five leagues has conceded more non-penalty set-play goals (12) than Liverpool this season. While they have only scored three.
Captain Virgil van Dijk called their vulnerability from set-pieces a ‘killer’. And the daunting visit of Leeds, who have scored the most set-piece goals so far this season, was an obvious worry.
But Daniel Farke’s team selection was a baffling one which saw the visitors fail to capitalise on that weakness as Dominic Calvert-Lewin was named on the bench.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had won the game off the bench (Image: Getty Images)
The former Everton striker has rejuvenated his career at Elland Road, scoring seven goals in the previous six games before the trip to Anfield. But the busy schedule saw Farke leave out the England World Cup hopeful. A decision that was music to Liverpool’s ears.
Slot also made changes as Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley started in the same team for the first time. The Dutchman played on the right wing with Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa on the bench. Dominik Szoboszlai started behind Hugo Ekitike with Florian Wirtz off the left.
An uninspiring opening half hour ticked by dramaless until Alisson woke up the entire stadium with a shocking pass out as he played the ball straight to Ethan Ampadu 25 yards from goal. The midfielder got his shot away first time but Alisson was close enough to his goal to comfortably recover.
If Leeds were to score, it looked like a moment out of the blue would be needed, while the Reds controlled the game. And should have gone in front when Ekitike headed Frimpong’s sliced shot away from goal despite having an open goal at his mercy if he could steer the header on target.
The Alisson mishap was a warning to Liverpool as they continued to create bit-part chances, seeing Frimpong burst clear down the right and pick out Wirtz with a cross, but the German was unable to control. Wirtz also missed a golden chance earlier in the game after Ekitike laid the ball on a plate for him after outmuscling Jaka Bijol.
With the second half as scrappy as the first, Slot went to his bench for the first time in the game in the 65th minute, withdrawing Wirtz, Curtis Jones and Andy Robertson for Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Kerkez in a revamped left-hand side.
From that point, the bulk of the Reds' play came down the left but nothing came from the change, seeing Slot introduce Federico Chiesa on the right in the 80th minute for Bradley. Rio Ngumoha was also thrown on with five minutes to play for Frimpong as Szoboszlai dropped to right-back.
Slot's changes failed to pay any sort of inspiration to the team, specifically moving Szoboszlai further away from the goal despite him laying on the most amount of key passes of any Liverpool player.
Liverpool's mediocre play was almost punished when Calvert-Lewin flicked his first attempt of the game into the back of the net, but the striker was offside to the host's relief.
Frustration started to boil among the home fans as the groans were audible as Leeds started to step up the pitch and look the more likely team to break the deadlock. The stands began to empty before the amount of added time was announced with the travelling support in full voice.