On New Year’s Day, Anfield expected another Liverpool surge. Instead, Leeds United stood firm. The 0-0 draw in Matchweek 19 did more than split the points. It ended Liverpool’s eight-match winning run, underlined Leeds’ new steel, and tightened the story at the top of the Premier League table.

For Liverpool manager Arne Slot, this was a rare night when pressure did not turn into points. For Daniel Farke and Leeds, it was a statement of calm and grit, and their first clean sheet since August.

Anfield stalemate snaps Liverpool’s surge

Liverpool came into 2026 flying. Eight wins in a row had lifted them back into the title talk. But the break never came here. The ball would not fall, the angles did not open, and the Leeds back line held its shape. The final whistle brought Liverpool’s first goalless game in 117 matches, a streak that stretched back to December 2023 against Manchester United.

There is no panic in a 38-game season, but there is context. Liverpool’s record now sits at 10 wins, 3 draws, 6 losses for 33 points from 19 matches, with a goal difference of +4. That leaves them second, six points behind leaders Aston Villa on 39.

“Is a title charge real with a +4 goal difference?”

Leeds United’s clean-sheet breakthrough

This was a Leeds display built on discipline. Farke’s side arrived with belief, and they left with more. The 0-0 gives Leeds their first clean sheet in 16 Premier League games and stretches their unbeaten run to six.

Leeds’ numbers now read 5 wins, 6 draws, 8 losses for 21 points at the halfway line of the season, with a goal difference of -7. That’s good for 12th place and a platform to aim higher. The bigger headline, though, is the way they earned it. On a day when Liverpool often push and pull teams out of shape, Leeds kept their lines tight and their choices simple.

What the Premier League table says right now

This result matters because of where it lands in the calendar. At the halfway point, small gaps can become big gaps fast. Here’s the picture after Matchweek 19:

• Aston Villa lead on 39 points from 19 games.
• Liverpool are second on 33 points, six off the top.
• Leeds sit 12th on 21 points, with space to breathe and room to climb.

For Liverpool, this is a reminder that the title race is not just about winning streaks. It’s also about nights like this, where one point might feel like none but could matter in May. For Leeds, every clean sheet is fuel. Confidence grows when you can shut the door at places like Anfield.

“Leeds defended like a top-four side today.”

The context: a 3-3 thriller and two unbeaten runs

These teams met at Elland Road only weeks ago in a wild 3-3 draw. Since then, both have stayed unbeaten. That matters. Leeds did not just hang on here; they built on momentum they already had. Liverpool, meanwhile, were chasing a ninth straight win and the table leaders. The draw keeps their unbeaten run alive, but it takes a little air out of the push.

Slot’s side tried to raise the tempo. Farke’s team refused to break shape. That tug-of-war told the story.

Why this 0-0 matters for Arne Slot and Liverpool

What will frustrate Slot is not only the two points lost, but how few clear looks Liverpool turned up in front of a home crowd. This Liverpool is built to sprint and swarm, yet Leeds managed the space and the rhythm well. The result also shines a light on the numbers: a +4 goal difference for a team in second place is slim. It hints at tight wins and thin margins over the first half of the season.

Still, there is a positive: Liverpool have not lost in the league since that six-game dip earlier in the campaign. They remain within reach of the leaders. There’s a lot of football left, and Liverpool have shown they can stack wins. The next step is turning draws like this back into narrow wins.

“If you can’t score at home in a tight race, the next few weeks get loud.”

Big picture for Daniel Farke and Leeds United

For Farke, this was the blueprint away from home: defend well, stay compact, and take the crowd out of the game. The clean sheet is more than a stat. It is a confidence switch. Leeds have now put together six unbeaten, and this point at Anfield tells the squad their approach is working.

Mid-table can be a tight space. One win can push you up three or four places, and one bad week can pull you back down. Leeds’ task now is simple to say and hard to do: turn draws into wins, and hold this defensive level.

Numbers that shape the narrative

Some stats carry weight beyond the scoreboard:

• First 0-0 in 117 Liverpool matches: That is a rare kind of night for the Reds, and it shows how stubborn Leeds were.
• Leeds’ first clean sheet since August: The wait was long; the reward feels bigger because it came at Anfield.
• Six-point gap to the top: With Aston Villa on 39, Liverpool on 33, every margin matters now.

Looking ahead

The draw does not define Liverpool’s season, but it does sharpen the next steps. Slot will want more punch in the final third and quicker choices around the box. The fixtures will keep coming, and the best teams build rhythm, not just moments.

Leeds leave with proof they can grind on the road. If they keep this defensive focus, they can look up the table rather than over their shoulder. The January and February runs often show who is real and who is not. On this night, Leeds showed they are very real in the fight for mid-table comfort and maybe more.

For Liverpool, the takeaway is simple: even the best runs stop. What matters is how fast the next one starts.