Leeds certainly weren’t overawed at Anfield as they took the game to Liverpool, but without really threatening Alisson Becker, perhaps unsurprisingly given that top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin was left on the bench.
The visitors knocked the ball around with confidence, but Florian Wirtz almost opened the scoring against the run of play when Leeds keeper Lucas Perri spilt a shot from Hugo Ekitike, and that seemed to be the cue for some sustained Reds pressure as the half developed.
The visitors’ back-five continued to frustrate Liverpool, but in sitting so deep, Leeds weren’t able to get forward themselves and invited Arne Slot’s side onto them at every possible opportunity.
Yet Alisson’s lackadaisical kick-out presented the visitors with a big chance to break the deadlock as it only found Ethan Ampadu, but despite having an open goal to aim at, the Leeds man’s tame effort was gathered by the grateful Brazilian. Right after, Ekitiké missed an even easier chance, heading away from another open goal when only two yards out.
Half-time came with Liverpool still in the ascendancy, and both sides battled hard to win possession in the early part of the second half. Jeremie Frimpong’s industry was matched by Ilia Gruev on one side, and Andrew Robertson’s tussling with James Justin kept them occupied on the other flank.
The game lacked flow with chances at a premium at both ends, though a towering Virgil van Dijk header sailed agonisingly wide, before Ekitike and Cody Gakpo failed to trouble Perri in the latter stages.
Leeds remained comfortable if a little disjointed, but when Calvert-Lewin put the ball in the net, Anfield fell silent, only for the hosts to benefit from an immediate reprieve from the offside flag. Liverpool failed to build on that let-off, and were ultimately held to a draw that means they have lost just one of the last 16 H2Hs (W10, D5). Leeds have still only managed to beat Wolves away from Elland Road this term, but are now unbeaten in six games overall.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)