Liverpool 0, Leeds United 0 – Match Recap: New Year, Same Liverpool

LIVERPOOL 0 – 0 LEEDS UNITED

New yr, new Liverpool? Other than the very apparent shiny spot that was profitable the Premier League final season, 2025 was typically not one of the best yr for Liverpool Soccer Membership—and that title, spectacular because it was, was gained nearly solely on the energy of an excellent autumn again within the foggy pre-history of 2024.

For essentially the most half, 2025 was marked by slumping performances, a degrading press, and a gradual lack of id with the squad beginning to come aside on the appears by the top of it, aka late November. Someplace alongside the best way, Liverpool stopped being a workforce attempting to win and have become nervous, static, and at greatest taking part in simply to not lose. And within the midst of all of it, after all, there was the tragedy that was the lack of Diogo Jota over the summer season looming far bigger than the soccer itself.

December, although, introduced with it a number of hopeful shoots of optimism. On the very least, outcomes improved—albeit with some large questions on performances and id and all the remainder remaining. For the primary time shortly, although, it felt like there simply may be a basis there. Now the query was if the Reds may construct on it and begin 2026 on a optimistic be aware.

It wasn’t the best begin for the house facet in Purple, sadly, with an overcomplicated Liverpool purpose kick within the opening minutes resulting in a turnover resulting in an pointless Conor Bradley foul and Leeds set-piece resulting in a gap ten minutes that noticed the guests holding each the majority of possession and clearly the extra threatening facet in assault any time they moved ahead.

Ultimately, although, Liverpool did settle in, holding possession nicely however with motion and the tempo of passing usually slowing down within the remaining third and failing to trigger Leeds any actual issues. At instances, the tactical method gave the impression to be to get him the ball and stand round watching to see if Hugo Ekitike may do a insanity. Execpt for when it was time to face round and watch to see if Florian Wirtz or Jeremie Frimpong may do related.

Which to be truthful has usually labored of late and nearly labored once more right here with Eikitike massively unfortunate—or maybe massively naive for staying on his toes—to to not win a penalty with the Leeds defender draped throughout him as he pushed in direction of purpose 1 / 4 of an hour into the match.

After that, the sport largely ticked alongside to the theme, with Liverpool holding extra of the ball and looking out the higher facet however with none actual clear reduce probabilities to indicate for it—apart from a cross Ekitike managed to bundle away from the purpose when something heading in the right direction would have resulted within the opener—a state that in all probability would’ve had either side feeling no less than comparatively optimistic, the Reds in a position to say they had been higher, in all probability deserved to be up, and dealing to tire their opponents whereas mentioned opponents may level to a degree scoreline away at Anfield.

The optimistic for Liverpool to start out the second half was that they didn’t drop off massively and hand momentum again to Leeds. The destructive was that it was nonetheless largely the case of a too static Liverpool facet holding possession with out making a lot of it. If there was a tweak, it was Conor Bradley taking part in greater up the pitch, resulting in the precise again at instances being the principle attacking point of interest. It didn’t result in an abundance of scoring probabilities.

In the meantime, any of particular person promise dropped at first half proceedings by Ekitike, Wirtz, and Frimpong largely appeared to dry up after the break. By the point modifications got here within the 67th minute, it was getting arduous to see the place a Liverpool purpose may come from. These modifications, although, with Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Cody Gakpo all approaching, didn’t do a lot to vary the lukewarm Europa League away day in Turkmenistan vibes that had taken over the match.

Lengthy gone had been the person efforts of the primary half and all that was left was Liverpool slowing down play any time they acquired the prospect whereas exhibiting no actual motion off the ball that may provide choices to teammates or drive Leeds to chase and maybe be pulled out of place. In the long run, the Reds may moderately say that of the 2 sides they deserved to win extra—based mostly on anticipated objectives, possession, and all the remainder. However with the clock ticking down and an opportunity to truly win the sport there for the taking, they confirmed little curiosity or intent.

Liverpool had the higher gamers and held extra of the ball, however there remained no actual menace. No motion, no tempo, no actual innovative. The very best likelihood of the closing phases fell to Leeds, leading to a purpose chalked off for a slim offside. In the long run, then, the ultimate whistle blew with the scoreline unchanged from kickoff. Nil-nil, and feeling as if it had all fairly been a little bit of a waste of everybody’s time.

Frimpong is quick and Wirtz was spectacular within the first half no less than, as was Ekitike—although at instances it may really feel as if when any of them do get the ball, everybody else simply stops to observe. All of it felt a bit bit stale, although, and a brand new yr didn’t deliver with it a return to a extra intense or thrilling Liverpool. It nonetheless felt a Liverpool facet arrange and taking part in to not lose fairly than to win. And hey, it sucked to observe however I assume no less than they managed that?

New yr, similar Liverpool.