Liverpool 0 Leeds United 0. With the 5-3-2 formation Leeds parked the bus. We may have had as many big scoring chances as Liverpool their domination of the match came to nothing. It was a huge result for Leeds – a valuable point against a top team, a much-needed clean sheet, a sixth match in a row without defeat, and a third away game in a row we have now not lost.
We wondered what Farke was thinking when he made four changes, but his logic was four games in ten days – he did something he rarely does – rotate. And not just rotate, he changed the formation to 5-3-2. But the risk worked. Liverpool may have been on a good run of form, but the atmosphere at the end of the match was very much against Slot.
Leeds started on the front foot, but it did not take long for Liverpool to settle down into running the match in Leeds’ half. Leeds stayed disciplined for the whole of the match. They kept their shape with Liverpool resorting to long range shots in the second half. The referee was fairly laid back and allowed Leeds to be physical and close down Frimpong and Ekitike.
Liverpool were probably not at their best. As Leeds defended deep, the low block worked. The match was long and slow to watch – Leeds simply could not get the ball to take the match the Liverpool. Liverpool predictably kept passing to the wings.
But that does not take away from the fact that Liverpool dominated long periods of matches with Frimpong and Ekitike running the wings. Both of them simply had more pace than Justin and Gudmundsson could handle. Leeds had only a third of possession – which was partly down to the 5-3-2 formation that led to Leeds vacating midfield.
It was not a game Leeds looked likely to win – we were not getting shots on target, and yet bizarrely it was DCL who had the only shot reaching the back of the net – alas his left leg was trailing. Oh how the last half hour could have been more enjoyable. Instead Liverpool, increasingly frustrated sent cross after cross to the back post.
Before that Alisson did make a mistake with a pass out that went straight to Ampadu who’s shot on goal Alisson managed to run back and save. In return Liverpool never got Perri to make a huge save.
Whilst Slot kept bringing on subs to try to force the game, Farke chose to change his front line with DCL and Okafor – sensing Leeds were pushing Liverpool back into their own half. It almost worked as DCL had a disallowed goal. Apart from that the forward passes generally went astray as there was only Nmecha up there. At the other end Liverpool were reduced to shots from the edge of the penalty box, as Leeds’ offside did its job.
Leeds have learned a lot so far this season, they managed to control the Liverpool corners and set pieces – apart from a couple of occasions when Van Dyk and Ekitike both had free headers – the latter bizarrely heading away from an empty goal.
Lucas Perri: A clean sheet at Anfield, yet strangely, he didn’t have to make a “worldie” save. That is a testament to the defence in front of him.
Struijk & Bijol: They headed, kicked, and blocked everything. Bijol, in particular, was monumental in the air.
The Midfield Engine: Aaronson and Anton Stach ran themselves into the ground trying to close space, even if we couldn’t keep the ball.
The Attack: It was tough for Nmecha and DCL. We were fluid playing out from the back in the first half, but as legs tired, we resorted to long balls that simply didn’t stick. The introduction of Okafor alongside DCL showed Farke sensed a smash-and-grab was possible, but the final ball was lacking.
Man of the match: Gudmundsson who kept that left wing closed down with his physicality.
