Leeds hold Liverpool to goalless draw at Anfield

LIVERPOOL, England, Jan 1 : Liverpool ‌could only manage a 0-0 New Year's Day draw with Leeds United on Thursday that cost Arne Slot's men precious points in the Premier League title race.

Holders Liverpool are fourth in the standings with 33 points after 19 games, 12 behind leaders Arsenal, while Leeds are 16th with 21 points, seven above the relegation zone.

"It doesn't come along that often that you get a clean sheet and a point at Anfield," Leeds boss Daniel Farke told the BBC. "We had to defend and suffer but we are newly promoted and came to the defending champions."

Leeds striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin briefly celebrated what he thought was the ‌winning goal in the 81st minute when he latched onto a pass from Noah Okafor and ‌lifted the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Alisson Becker, but it was ruled out for offside. 

Calvert-Lewin, who was unable to extend his run of scoring in six consecutive matches, was a late substitution after Farke made the bold decision to start him on the bench.

"Sometimes the head has to win over the heart," Farke said. "We had four Premier League fixtures in 10 days and I have to trust my whole squad. We know what happened to Dominic in the last few years with injuries. Overall it was a sign of how much I trust the ‍group."

Liverpool, who had been on a run of four successive wins across all competitions, lacked any sort of urgency against an excellent defensive effort from Leeds and squandered a couple of good chances.

The best was Hugo Ekitike's header at the far post from Jeremie Frimpong's cross that he headed away from the goal.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk missed a chance in the second half when he headed a corner kick wide of the net.

Alisson ​nearly gifted Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu a