It was no ‘new year, new me’ for Liverpool as they played out a dire 0-0 draw with relegation candidates Leeds to kick off 2026 – with the same problems on show.Team news: 3 changes with Frimpong in attackArne Slot made three changes for Liverpool’s first game of 2026, with Conor Bradley, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai coming in for Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Federico Chiesa.With Bradley restored to right-back that meant Jeremie Frimpong took up duties on the right wing, with Mohamed Salah still absent at the Africa Cup of Nations.The return of Szoboszlai allowed for a stronger bench than in the 2-1 win over Wolves last time out, though academy players Wellity Lucky and Calvin Ramsay were still involved.Another tough first half for LiverpoolIt was an even start to the first half as the two sides sized each other up, with a handful of lapses in possession, but Liverpool soon found their groove.There were positive signs as Bradley and Frimpong worked together down the right flank, while Hugo Ekitike were a major threat as usual, with strong centre-forward play setting Florian Wirtz up for a shot blocked.Alisson gave Leeds their biggest opening on the half-hour mark with a sloppy pass, but fortunately the Reds quickly recovered and snuffed out any threat.Frimpong continued to provide urgency in his advanced role and the Dutchman delivered a brilliant cross for Ekitike after picking the ball up on the byline, but the striker didn’t have time to adjust himself for the header.Liverpool saw 66 percent of possession in a dominant first half, with nine shots on goal to Leeds‘ two and 1.55xG, but their clinical edge was again lacking against a deep-sitting side determined to frustrate them.Half-time: Liverpool 0-0 LeedsMore second-half strugglesThe Reds piled on the pressure early on in the second half and it was Bradley who frequently looked to test goalkeeper Lucas Perri, while Ekitike was denied by a vital block following another Frimpong cross.Slot’s first substitutions came around the hour mark, with Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo all sent on as Robertson, Wirtz and Curtis Jones made way.Virgil van Dijk had a big chance to put his side ahead with a header from a corner, but stand-in set-piece coach Sipke Hulshoff will have been left frustrated as the captain failed to hit the target.Angst developed in the stands as Liverpool looked increasingly unlikely to find their breakthrough, with there little sign of how Slot intends for his side to attack, and they were dealt a scare as Dominic Calvert-Lewin netted from an offside position.The desperate introduction of two more attackers in Federico Chiesa and Rio Ngumoha did little to improve the Reds’ second-half efforts, with more points dropped to a supposedly lesser side.TIA Man of the Match: Jeremie Frimpong