Liverpool Held to Frustrating Draw by Impressive Leeds

Liverpool's first game of 2026 ended in disappointment as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Leeds at Anfield. Arne Slot's team struggled to create scoring opportunities against a well-organized Leeds side that had rested several key players. The draw extends Leeds' unbeaten run to six games and leaves Liverpool frustrated, having missed the chance to move further ahead of Chelsea in the standings. Leeds, on the other hand, are now seven points clear of the relegation zone. The match saw Leeds test Liverpool's vulnerability from set pieces, with skipper Ethan Ampadu coming close to scoring after capitalizing on a poor pass from Alisson Becker. Liverpool's best chance of the first half came from Jeremie Frimpong's cross-shot, which Hugo Ekitike diverted wide. Leeds manager Daniel Farke had a strong bench, including in-form striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was introduced as a substitute and had a goal disallowed for offside. Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed frustration with the penalty calls, feeling that his team is not treated equally in such situations. The draw leaves Liverpool with work to do to catch up with the top teams, while Leeds can build on this impressive performance.