A shocking miss that could haunt Liverpool all season: Hugo Ekitike's open-goal blunder sealed a frustrating 0-0 draw against Leeds United at Anfield, marking Arne Slot's first goalless match in charge. But was it just bad luck, or a symptom of deeper problems plaguing the Reds?
The highly anticipated clash to kick off 2026 turned into a damp squib thanks to Ekitike's incredible miss. Jeremie Frimpong unleashed a powerful left-footed shot across the Liverpool goal. The ball found Ekitike just a yard out. What happened next defied belief. Instead of tapping it into the gaping net, he somehow managed to head the ball in the opposite direction! It was, quite simply, harder to miss than score. Imagine the uproar in the stands; the groans of disbelief echoing around Anfield.
Liverpool's draw extends their unbeaten run to eight games and nudges them three points ahead of Chelsea in the race for European football. But here's where it gets controversial... was this point truly earned, or merely salvaged from a lackluster performance? While the unbeaten streak sounds impressive, the display itself was far from inspiring.
Slot's men dominated possession, hogging the ball for a significant portion of the game. And this is the part most people miss... possession doesn't always equate to attacking threat. They struggled to truly test Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri. In fact, since Slot took the reins in the summer of 2024, this was the 84th game where Liverpool failed to find the back of the net – a worrying statistic for any team with title aspirations. It was a game starved of clear-cut chances.
Ekitike had earlier been denied a penalty after appearing to be held back by Jaka Bijol. Virgil van Dijk came close with a header from a corner in the second half, but these were fleeting moments of promise in an otherwise uneventful match.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke made a bold decision to rest Dominic Calvert-Lewin, his in-form striker who had bagged seven goals in his previous six outings. This was with their crucial upcoming match against Manchester United at Elland Road in mind. But here's a risk... resting a key player can sometimes backfire. And it almost did!
Calvert-Lewin, introduced as a second-half substitute, nearly snatched a dramatic winner. He turned sharply and slotted the ball past Alisson in the 81st minute. The Anfield crowd held their breath... only to be denied by the linesman's flag. Calvert-Lewin was marginally offside. It was that close!
The draw extends Leeds' unbeaten run to six games. They haven't tasted defeat since November, a testament to Farke's steadying influence. They sit comfortably seven points clear of the relegation zone, a significant achievement given their pre-season expectations. Having drawn 3-3 with Liverpool at Elland Road earlier in the season, they remain unbeaten against the reigning Premier League champions this term. A psychological boost, no doubt.
Liverpool Analysis: Urgency Missing
At the halfway point of the season, Liverpool find themselves in fourth place with 33 points from 19 games. While this represents an improvement on their earlier form, it masks a fundamental flaw: a lack of urgency. Slot's side are adept at keeping the ball, but struggle to unlock stubborn defenses like the one Leeds presented. At times, they seemed to be waiting for something to happen, rather than proactively creating opportunities. Apart from the Ekitike chance, they barely carved out any meaningful openings. The Anfield faithful, accustomed to a decade of thrilling football, voiced their displeasure at full-time with audible boos. In recent weeks, Liverpool have eked out results despite mediocre performances. This time, however, it was Leeds who almost stole the points, with Calvert-Lewin's disallowed goal a stark reminder of their vulnerability.
On the bright side, Slot can take solace in securing a clean sheet, their first 0-0 draw in 117 matches since December 2023 against Manchester United.
Leeds Analysis: Comfortable and Confident
Leeds delivered another assured performance, continuing their transformation into a solid Premier League outfit. Despite Liverpool's dominance of possession (68%), Farke's side looked remarkably comfortable for much of the evening. Whenever they gained possession, they played with confidence and posed a threat, particularly in the latter stages of the game.
With the benefit of hindsight, Farke might question his decision to bench Calvert-Lewin, who provided an attacking outlet and threat that Lukas Nmecha couldn't replicate. Ethan Ampadu, who will miss Sunday's clash against Manchester United after accumulating his fifth yellow card of the season, will rue his missed opportunity in the first half when Alisson gifted him possession with a poor pass.
Nevertheless, as the Leeds players celebrated with their travelling fans after the final whistle, it was clear that this is a team that now genuinely believes it belongs in the top flight. A valuable point gained against a Liverpool side that had won their previous four matches. The upcoming clash against Manchester United at Elland Road promises to be a captivating spectacle.
So, was Liverpool's draw a sign of things to come, or just a temporary blip? Can Slot inject the urgency and creativity needed to unlock stubborn defenses? And did Farke make the right call resting Calvert-Lewin? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
