Gave the Ball Away 15 Times: Arne Slot Urged to Bench Liverpool Star After ‘Shocking’ Leeds Display
Liverpool were left frustrated after being held to a goalless draw by Leeds United, a result that may force Arne Slot to reconsider the role of one struggling first-team star. It continued the Reds’ recent difficulties against the Peacocks, following last month’s dramatic 3–3 draw at Elland Road.
Having ended the year with three consecutive wins, Liverpool appeared to have regained momentum. However, a disciplined Leeds performance at Anfield halted that progress, leaving Slot visibly perplexed as his side failed to find a breakthrough.
Virgil van Dijk came closest to scoring in the 69th minute, climbing above the defence to meet a cross but heading narrowly wide of Lucas Perri’s post. It marked only the second Premier League match this season in which Liverpool failed to score, with one attacker in particular enduring a disappointing evening.
Liverpool 0–0 Leeds: Wirtz Struggles as Pressure Mounts
Optimism around Florian Wirtz had been growing after he finally opened his Liverpool account in last weekend’s 2–1 win over Wolves. That goal seemed to signal a turning point after a difficult start following his £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.
But the German international once again found himself under scrutiny, with this performance suggesting he is still adjusting to the demands of the Premier League. Wirtz missed a clear chance in the first half, firing well wide, and later squandered another promising attack by losing possession on the break.
In total, he gave the ball away 15 times and struggled defensively, winning just one of three tackles. His influence faded as the match wore on, and Slot replaced him with Cody Gakpo in the 66th minute.
Fans and Pundits React
Given his hefty transfer fee, Wirtz remains firmly in the spotlight, and reactions were swift after Liverpool dropped points. His display was labelled “shocking” by several observers.
Mark Goldbridge of The United Stand was blunt in his assessment, while Liverpool supporters were equally critical on social media, describing his performance as “embarrassing” and joking that he looked “hungover.” Others complained that everything he attempted was slightly off, particularly his missed first-half opportunity.
Slot had reportedly envisioned Wirtz as a key figure in his project at Anfield, but the German’s inconsistency has made that difficult. For now, building the team around him appears unrealistic given his uneven form.
Liverpool’s attention now turns to Sunday’s trip to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on January 4. The Reds sit fourth in the table, holding a five-point cushion over Chelsea as the race for a top-four finish continues.