The raw figures will show that Liverpool have succeeded in extending their unbeaten run to eight games. However, much like the 3-3 draw with Leeds a few weeks ago, this goalless encounter will feel more like a defeat. Why can’t we do that? As third-placed Aston Villa were easily sent off by Arsenal and Chelsea dropped points before sacking their manager this week, Liverpool moved away from fifth and missed a golden opportunity to move closer to third.
When will this surprisingly expensive team start producing more solid performances, while not particularly impressive or convincing, is a legitimate question to ask now that their consistent momentum has stalled. At the final whistle, the away team cheered and Leeds fans celebrated what felt like a victory for Daniel Farke’s side.
The fact that they have managed to snatch two points from the reigning Premier League champions since their return to the top flight speaks volumes about Arne Slott’s side’s worrying inability to produce consistent performances.
Was there even one performance worthy of a championship this season?
Leeds were virtually scoreless in this match. Aside from a few wasted penalty appeals, the Reds once again looked like a team struggling to balance defensive solidity with effectiveness in the final third.
With Alexander Isak out for the foreseeable future, Mohamed Salah absent for the African Cup of Nations and the returning Kodi Gakpo failing to reach the heights of last season, the lack of a genuine winner is a major concern for the slot.
Hugo Ekitike has made a promising start at Liverpool, but there appears to be little backup if the France international has an off day.
17-year-old Rio Ngumoja and the less popular Federico Chiesa were introduced as assists, but Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perrie was largely untested. A double trip to London to take on Fulham and league leaders Arsenal could spoil a productive December in the Reds’ quest to secure at least a top-four finish.
The first half was largely uneventful, with Liverpool in the ascendancy, but they lacked the creativity needed in key attacking moments. Jeremy Frimpong, who returned to the wide forward position behind Conor Bradley, was the hosts’ most dangerous player and his lightning speed caused problems for Farke’s side.
Ekitike missed a golden opportunity when he bizarrely headed backwards from a Frimpong cross, hitting Leeds goalkeeper Perry in the head for the opening goal. It’s a moment Ekitike would like to forget, but such lapses have been rare since his summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Frimpong showed great speed late in the second half, forcing Pascal Strujk to follow, but Florian Wirtz was fouled when he tried to recover from a cut-back. It was that kind of match.
As the match progressed, Wirtz started to flag, but it was no surprise that Gakpo replaced him in the second half. By that time, the early momentum had disappeared, and the players seemed unable to liven up the atmosphere on the terraces as the murmurs grew louder.
Their dissatisfaction was understandable.
By Opta’s definition, the champions have created just four “big chances” this season, in home games against Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Wolves and now Leeds. This emphasis on defense clearly affects the offensive power, leading to a decline in entertainment value.
It’s hard to pinpoint Liverpool’s style of play in the second half of the season. Despite making significant investments to rebuild a title-winning team, this lack of clarity falls squarely on the shoulders of head coach Slott.
The Reds had their only shot on target in the second half, a long-range shot from Dominik Szoboszlai. Their struggles were summed up by the sight of Ekitike, the only striker in the slot, wide on the right, struggling to find space to cross in for a waiting teammate in the 96th minute.
The number 22 often falls outside the usual realm of strikers, and that aspect of his game will require careful attention as he prepares to spearhead the attack in the coming months.
A goalless draw would not be a disaster for their Champions League hopes, but what is more worrying is that Liverpool may already be over their worst patch of the season and this could be their current standard of play. For those heading into a dry January, this is a sobering feeling.
