Liverpool – Leeds United: Liverpool Stumble In Anfield Stalemate (0-0)

Liverpool were hoping to start the new year by making it five wins in a row and shrug off the doubts that have defined this campaign, but 2026 would start with a goalless stalemate against a Leeds United side that defended resolutely and deep. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

The talk before the start of the season around Liverpool was of consolidation and dynasty. And why not? This was a Premier League-winning side that had spent £446 million in the summer window to build a team in manager Arne Slot’s image. If Slot could win with a squad that wasn’t his own, imagine what he could do with his own charges. However, the reality has been far more awkward, with Liverpool struggling to find a new identity amid a sea of change. 

The priority for Leeds United before the start of the season was self-evident: survival. So far, so good. Ahead of this match, the newly promoted side had four teams below them in the table and a seven-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone. It’s hard not to think that their hopes of survival have been massively boosted by the subpar performances of those below them, but that does not mean credit should be stripped away from Leeds, who entered this match on a five-game unbeaten run. 

Slot went with a 4-3-3-1 shape to kickstart the new year. Alisson Becker in goal with a defense of Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahim Konaté, and Conor Bradley. In midfield, Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch. On the wings, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, with Dominik Szoboszlai as the . . .