Soccer
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke defended his decision to drop the in-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin to the bench against Liverpool.
Calvert-Lewin was named as a substitute during the goalless draw at Anfield, despite scoring seven goals in his last six Premier League appearances.
The striker emerged from the bench in the 70th minute and thought he had snatched all three points for Leeds with a clever finish, only to be denied by the offside flag.
Farke later said he made the decision in a bid to protect his number nine, as well as taking the opportunity to shuffle his pack during a busy period.
“Sometimes, the head has to win over the heart,” the Leeds head coach said. “We had four Premier League fixtures in 10 days, and I have to trust my whole squad.
“We know what happened to Dominic in the last few years with injuries. Overall, it was a sign of how much I trust the group.”
Massive point on the road! pic.twitter.com/nHo02Yet65
— Leeds United (@LUFC) January 1, 2026
On the game, he added: “It doesn’t come along that often that you get a clean sheet and a point at Anfield. We had to defend and suffer, but we are newly promoted and came to the defending champions.
“There’s always a special atmosphere on New Year’s Day, and you could feel that from the crowd, but we performed well.
“The lads defended well and didn’t allow clear-cut chances. It’s always important to be rock-solid against the ball and keep a clean sheet.”
Lucas Perri became the first Leeds goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet against Liverpool in all competitions since Nigel Martyn (April 1999) and first at Anfield since John Lukic (April 1995).
Defender James Justin concurred with Farke and said his team-mates and coaching staff were deserving of “a pat on the back” for their performance.
“A good battle and they’re a great side,” he added. “They’ve not been at their best this season, but you know what quality they have.
“We did a good job collectively, so a pat on the back for us. There was a lot of emphasis going on a few days before the game, trying out different shapes with different players.
“Luckily, today, we chose the right tactic and a pat on the back for the management staff.”
Read MoreSoccerNews