Liverpool’s Stagnation Continues Following Disappointing Draw Against Leeds

If head coach Arne Slot aimed to commence the new year with enthusiasm, Liverpool’s inaugural match of 2026 must have left him profoundly disappointed. After a tumultuous 2025 that oscillated between exceptional and absurd, the Premier League champions will hope that their lackluster performance in Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Leeds United does not foreshadow the months to come.

Last summer, many predicted that this would be a pivotal year for Slot to establish a dynasty at Anfield. However, with his team currently trailing league leaders Arsenal by 12 points and exhibiting a notable absence of the confidence that propelled them to the title last season, it is evident that the Dutch manager’s immediate priority must be to restore much-needed dynamism to their gameplay.

Following a dismal autumn in which Liverpool lost nine out of twelve matches across all competitions, the festive period provided some signs of recovery, with victories over Inter Milan, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks.

Yet, the stalemate against Daniel Farke’s side means the Reds are now unbeaten in eight matches and have closed the gap to third-placed Aston Villa by one point. Nevertheless, the atmosphere at Anfield on Thursday was far from celebratory as familiar issues resurfaced, leaving Liverpool frequently looking devoid of inspiration.

This match marked Slot’s first 0-0 draw in his 84-game tenure and Liverpool’s first since December 2023, when they were similarly held at home by Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United. Notably, it was only the fourth occasion that Liverpool failed to score in the Premier League since the beginning of the last season, with three of those scoreless outings occurring in their last nine league matches, highlighting the Reds’ recent attacking deficiencies.

In the first half against Leeds, Liverpool demonstrated fleeting moments of offensive promise, particularly when the in-form Hugo Ekitike had his close-range header saved by Lucas Perri following a powerful cross from Jeremie Frimpong. After halftime, however, the hosts managed only one shot on target—a long-range effort from Dominik Szoboszlai—with captain Virgil van Dijk heading their best chance wide from a set piece.

Considering Leeds had not kept a clean sheet in the league since late August, Liverpool’s lack of attacking threat was particularly disappointing.

“To score a goal against a team that is defending so well in and around the box, there are a few ways to unlock it,” Slot remarked in his post-match press conference. “That can be through set pieces; we came close with Virgil. Another method is something we witnessed against Wolves when Jeremie Frimpong had his moment of magic [one-on-one], and he had a few such moments today as well.

“We are the team with the most ball possession, but that means little if you cannot create sufficient chances, and generating opportunities against a low block requires pace and individual brilliance to create an overload.”

Certainly, Leeds deserve commendation for their resilient performance. They entered the match unbeaten in five contests and relished making life difficult for the hosts at Anfield. They could have even claimed more than a point had substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin not strayed offside before knocking the ball into the net, past goalkeeper Alisson, late in the game.

By that stage, Slot had made several substitutions in an attempt to conjure a dramatic winner, with Florian Wirtz among those taken off after struggling to build on his impressive display against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The fact that Liverpool’s bench had tallied only eight league goals collectively this season further underscores Slot’s need for game-changers.

With Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt and British-record signing Alexander Isak expected to be sidelined for several months following surgery on a broken ankle, Liverpool would undoubtedly benefit from reinforcements during the January transfer window. Despite spending nearly £450 million in the summer, the squad remains unbalanced; Cody Gakpo and 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha are the only two natural wingers available for selection.

Ngumoha showcased promise in his brief appearance against Leeds but was unable to ignite an attack that has faltered, impacting Liverpool’s previously strong defense in recent weeks.

“It’s really frustrating,” Frimpong, who started at right wing before transitioning to right back, told Sky Sports. “We aimed to win the game. I don’t think we created enough chances.

“Leeds defended well. At the end of the day, a 0-0 result is extremely frustrating, but we must move on to the next game. We did attempt, and I believe I should have delivered the ball better. That is all I can say.”

This sense of frustration was palpable both on the pitch and in the stands on Thursday. With challenging away fixtures against Fulham and Arsenal on the horizon, Liverpool must hope their attacking capabilities ignite sooner rather than later.