Liverpool labored to a 0-0 home draw with Leeds in the Premier League on Thursday, extending its unbeaten run to eight games but underwhelming again amid key absences up front.
Hugo Ekitike’s misdirected header from in front of goal in the first half was the only clear-cut chance at Anfield for Liverpool, which lacked inspiration in attack with Alexander Isak injured and Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool, the defending champion, stayed in fourth and was 12 points behind first-place Arsenal at the halfway point of the campaign.
Since a 4-1 home loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Nov. 26, Liverpool has played seven games in the Premier League — winning four of them and drawing the other three. It has struggled to find much fluency, however, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot placing extra emphasis on being tighter at the back after the team’s early season woes.
“This season multiple times we have conceded a goal in a game like this and that’s a positive thing today,” Slot said.
The other result in the recent undefeated streak was a victory at Inter Milan in the Champions League.
In another game Tuesday, Crystal Palace and Fulham drew 1-1. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s opener for Palace was canceled out by Tom Cairney.
Later Thursday, second-place Manchester City visits Sunderland and Brentford hosts Tottenham.
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Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
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