Arne Slot admits frustration as Liverpool draw with Leeds United - 'Possession doesn’t mean a lot if you can’t create enough chances'

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Liverpool were frustrated as they drew 0-0 with Leeds United at Anfield, with Arne Slot admitting his side are in swift need of creating more chances in order to break down frustrating Premier League defences. The Reds saw a three-game winning run come to an end, and sit 12 points behind league leaders Arsenal. Live Premier League football is on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Slot frustrated by Liverpool failure to ‘unlock’ Leeds in Anfield stalemate

Video credit: SNTV

Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted his side need to create more chances as they laboured to a 0-0 draw with Leeds United at Anfield.

The Reds had 69% possession against Daniel Farke's side but struggled to create any genuine chances in the Premier League clash on New Year's Day.

The visitors had a second-half goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin ruled out for offside - Liverpool's evening could have been even worse.

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It was the first goalless draw under Slot and the first at Anfield for two years, largely owing to Leeds stifling and frustrating their hosts, as their impressive unbeaten run continued.

Champions Liverpool are in fourth place, three points ahead of Chelsea, but 12 behind leaders Arsenal.

"I think we’re the team with the most possession in the league," Slot explained in his post-match press conference.

"But ball possession doesn’t mean a lot if you can’t create enough chances."

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The surplus of possession, both against Leeds and other sides, is doing little for Liverpool as they struggle to create chances on a consistent basis.

Slot has spoken previously this season about facing low blocks from Premier League sides, but has been unable to find a way to break them down.

"To create chances against a low block, you need pace and individual special moments to create overloads," Slot added. "You don’t see a lot of 15 or 20 pass goals against low blocks."

When asked what The Reds were missing, Slot replied: "A goal. That’s the most simple answer. To score a goal against a team that's defending so well in and around their box, there are a few ways to unlock it.

"For some teams in this league, it's the set pieces. We were close with Virgil [Van Dijk], we had eight [corners], unfortunately we didn’t score.

"Another way of unlocking it is something we saw last week against Wolves, when Jeremie Frimpong had his moment of magic, a quick one against one where he brought the ball in. I think he had a few of those moments today as well. It would have been nice to have more bodies in their box."

'It probably would have been a penalty' - Slot

In the first half, Liverpool saw a potential penalty shout waved away when Jaka Bijol and Hugo Ekitike jostled for the ball in the Leeds box.

Slot believes that had the French striker gone down in the box, instead of staying upright and attempting to score, he would have been awarded a penalty.

Bijol had his arms around Ekitike as he tried to control the ball, before poking it into the path of Florian Wirtz.

There were protests from Liverpool after the challenge, but referee Chris Kavanagh waved away the shouts and VAR chose not to intervene.

"No, because he stayed on his feet," Slot said, when asked if he felt Ekitike should have been given a penalty.

"If he had fallen down, it probably would have been a penalty. But I understand why he doesn’t go down, because this season, so many times when we were fouled inside the 18-yard box, we didn’t get a penalty.

Hugo Ekitike is challenged by Jaka Bijol during clash between Liverpool and Leeds at Anfield on New Year's Day

Image credit: Getty Images

"Maybe as a result of that, players from us think 'let’s try to stay on our feet.' Because we’ve conceded a few penalties where there was hardly any contact. Brentford away, Crystal Palace in the Charity Shield, I can go on and on with soft penalties we’ve conceded this season.

"But when fouls are made on us, Brentford away, Cody Gakpo, the referee says play on.

"So maybe as a result, our players try to do everything to stay on their feet. And then it’s hard for VAR to interfere or the referee to give a penalty if you stay on your feet."

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