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Two unbeaten records continued in place at Anfield, however only one team could derive real contentment from the outcome. Daniel Farke's men carried out a perfect strategy of frustrating and restricting Liverpool, with the first scoreless draw of Arne Slot's reign highlighting the lingering issues behind the reigning champions' latest upturn.

Defensive Masterclass Secures Vital Point

A drab goalless draw, the first in 84 fixtures for Liverpool, was largely attributable to the defensive solidity of the excellent centre-back pairing Struijk and Bijol, combined with the Anfield side's inability to break down a compact visitors' defence. Liverpool were reduced to hopeful opportunities, and a smattering of discontent echoed around the famous ground at the full-time signal on a sluggish performance.

"If I don't use the entire squad and we have a fixture list like this, I would never make changes," the manager explained. "For a player like Dominic I have to protect him. We all know his recent couple of years was challenging. He is in incredible form but it's important I manage him and sometimes the head needs to win over the heart."

The Hosts' Struggle in Front of Goal

Arne Slot's team at first displayed more energy and sharpness than in previous outings, with the right wing-back influential on the flank. Nevertheless, golden chances were scarce. The home side's primary moments in the opening period involved forward Hugo Ekitiké.

• After a neat exchange with Curtis Jones, the French forward drifted infield and forced a stop from keeper Lucas Perri at his front post.
• The visitors' shot-stopper spilled the shot, requiring a timely intervention from James Justin to stop Florian Wirtz converting the rebound.
• Ekitiké later raced clear onto a ball over the top but was impeded by Jaka Bijol; despite staying on his feet, his appeals for a penalty were waved away.

Spurned Opportunities Prove Costly

Ekitiké's afternoon worsened when he failed to find the net with his clearest chance. Meeting a pacy Frimpong cross in the goal area, the striker miscued a header that hit the goalkeeper while with an unguarded net.

At the other end, their clearest sight of goal arrived from an Alisson mistake. The Brazilian keeper sent a careless clearance directly to midfielder Ethan Ampadu, whose instant shot back down the centre was gathered by the alert Alisson.

Turgid Conclusion

The contest deteriorated into a scrappy affair, low on quality. Dominik Szoboszlai, returning from a ban, forced a save from Perri from range. The subsequent scramble resulted in Ampadu controlling the ball, awarding the hosts a free-kick in a promising area, which Wirtz wasted into the wall.

Slot made a triple change to bring impetus, and moments later Virgil van Dijk went agonisingly close to nodding his team in front from a corner, his header bouncing just wide the post.

Substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had extended his goal streak for the visitors in the final minutes, but his tap-in was flagged out for a tight offside call. In the end, the two teams had to accept a single of the points.