Liverpool 0-0 Leeds - Match Report

Liverpool kicked off 2026 with a frustrating goalless draw against Leeds United at Anfield on January 1.

The result marked Liverpool's second draw against Leeds in under a month, following a chaotic 3-3 thriller at Elland Road, but this time there was no such drama - just a labored performance from the hosts that drew boos from the Anfield crowd at full-time.

Match Report

Liverpool made three changes from their previous outing, with Dominik Szoboszlai returning from suspension to join Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones in midfield. Summer signings Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz flanked Hugo Ekitike up front, while the backline remained familiar with Alisson in goal, Conor Bradley and Andrew Robertson at full-back, and Ibrahima Konate partnering Virgil van Dijk.

Leeds, prioritizing pragmatism amid a busy schedule, rested in-form striker Calvert-Lewin on the bench and opted for a back five featuring Sebastiaan Bornauw, Jaka Bijol, Pascal Struijk, James Justin, and Ethan Ampadu. Lukas Nmecha led the line, supported by Brenden Aaronson and Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

The game started cagily, with Leeds frustrating Liverpool through diligent defending and exploiting set pieces. An early error from Alisson gifted Ampadu a chance, but the goalkeeper recovered to claim the weak shot. Liverpool's best moments came down the right flank, where Frimpong's pace and directness troubled Leeds' defense. One such cross-shot in the first half was met by Ekitike, who could only divert it onto goalkeeper Lucas Perri rather than into the net. Wirtz had a shot blocked by Justin after Struijk held off Ekitike, and two quick crosses through the six-yard box went begging with no Reds player close enough to capitalize.

Half-time arrived with the scoreline blank, and the second period followed a similar pattern. Liverpool built pressure but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Szoboszlai tested Perri from distance around the hour mark, and Van Dijk squandered a golden chance in the 69th minute, heading wide unmarked from Szoboszlai's corner. Slot introduced substitutes including Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, and Amario Cozier-Duberry (Ngumoha) to inject energy, but Leeds held firm.

Leeds' bench provided a spark when Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor entered in the 71st minute. Ten minutes later, Calvert-Lewin thought he had stolen the points, lifting the ball over Alisson after a through ball, only for the goal to be chalked off for a narrow offside. Late Liverpool pressure yielded corners and half-chances—Ekitike shot wide, Ngumoha crossed dangerously—but Leeds' backline, led by Struijk and Bijol, cleared everything. Six minutes of added time passed without incision, and the final whistle confirmed a 0-0 stalemate.

Key Moments & Highlights

Early Pressure (First Half): Wirtz's quick feet led to a shot blocked by Justin; Frimpong's rapid cross was headed onto Perri by Ekitike, who also had a penalty appeal waved away after contact with Struijk.

Alisson's Error (First Half): A misplaced clearance went straight to Ampadu, but Alisson redeemed himself with a save.

Szoboszlai's Long-Ranger (60 min): The Hungarian's deflected effort forced Perri into a save—the first real test for Leeds' keeper in the second half.

Van Dijk's Miss (69 min): Unmarked on the penalty spot from a corner, the captain planted his header wide, drawing groans from the crowd.

Disallowed Goal (81 min): Calvert-Lewin latched onto a pass and dinked over Alisson, but the offside flag denied what would have been a stunning winner for the ex-Everton man in his sixth straight game with a goal.

Late Drama (90+ mins): Okafor's shot was blocked, Ekitike reached the byline but Leeds cleared, and Ngumoha's turn and cross was dealt with as Liverpool's attacks fizzled out.

Highlights from the Xscore808 the game's intensity despite the lack of goals: close calls for Ilia Gruev, Aaronson, and Gudmundsson for Leeds, alongside Liverpool's quick but imprecise crosses from Bradley and Robertson. Stoppage time featured frantic corners and a yellow for Ampadu, but the match ended goalless - Liverpool's first in 117 games and Leeds' first clean sheet in 16 Premier League

Player Ratings

Using a scale of 1-10 based on aggregated performances:

Liverpool:

Alisson: 6 – Solid save from Ampadu but culpable for the initial error.

Bradley: 6 – Energetic but poor clearance late on.

Robertson: 6 – Steady, subbed for Kerkez.

Konate: 6 – Dealt with threats well.

Van Dijk: 6 – Dominant aerially but missed a sitter.

Gravenberch: 6 – Controlled midfield but no breakthrough.

Jones: 6 – Industrious, subbed for Mac Allister.

Szoboszlai: 6 – Tested Perri but inconsistent.

Frimpong: 7 – Standout performer with pace and crosses; linked well with Bradley.

Ekitike: 6 – Wasteful in key moments, anonymous second half.

Wirtz: 5 – Low pass accuracy (79.6%), subbed after 66 mins for lack of impact.

Subs: Kerkez (6), Mac Allister (6), Gakpo (6), Chiesa (N/A), Ngumoha (N/A).

Leeds United:

Perri: 6 – Rarely tested but handled what came his way.

Bornauw: 7 – Key blocks and tackles.

Bijol: 8 – Dominant, booked for wall interference.

Struijk: 8 – Excellent in holding off Ekitike.

Justin: 8 – Player of the Match; two crucial blocks on Wirtz.

Gruev: 7 – Aggressive in midfield, noted for compactness.

Stach: 8 – Strong protection for the backline.

Ampadu: 8 – Nearly scored, handball yellow.

Gudmundsson: 8 – Effective in transitions.

Aaronson: 6 – Improved but subbed.

Nmecha: 6 – Step forward but limited threat.

Subs: Calvert-Lewin (7) – Almost hero with disallowed goal; Okafor (7), Bogle (N/A), Tanaka (N/A).

Player of the Match: James Justin (Leeds).

This draw exposed familiar issues for Liverpool under Slot. For Leeds, this was another sign of progress in their rejuvenation.

Post-match, Slot lamented fine margins, including a non-penalty call, while emphasizing his team's identity in not diving.