Farke Slams “Unacceptable” Decision as Leeds Hold Liverpool to 0-0 Draw
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke was left seething after his team’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield, his ire directed squarely at the officials who he believes got some crucial decisions woefully wrong. The Yellow’s stalwart was particularly incensed by the yellow card given to Ethan Ampadu, which will see the midfielder miss the crucial match against Manchester United.
The booking, for handball in the second half, was Ampadu’s fifth caution of the season, and Farke was scathing in his criticism of referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision. “I have to calm myself down because I’m still struggling to accept that,” Farke said in the post-match press conference. “When I see the foul on Anton Stach not given in the first half… it’s just not consistent. You can’t just give a yellow card for that. It’s not just about the yellow card, it’s about the whole game. There were so many moments where we had to suffer, and Liverpool had more possession, but we didn’t allow them clear-cut chances.”
Farke’s frustration was palpable as he questioned the consistency of the officials, pointing out that the foul on Stach in the first half was far more egregious than Ampadu’s handball. “I’ve seen some tough challenges in my time, but that one was a clear foul,” Farke fumed. “And then you give Ethan a yellow card for handball? It’s just not consistent. I’m not saying we didn’t make mistakes, but the officials have to be consistent. They can’t just cherry-pick the moments that suit them.”
The Leeds United boss also questioned the six minutes of added time, which he believed was excessive. “I’m not sure where six minutes of added time comes from,” Farke said. “We didn’t waste too much time, and the game wasn’t that stop-start. It’s just another example of the little things that can go against you.”
Despite the frustration, Farke was full of praise for his team’s performance, which he believed was a testament to their resilience and organization. “It was always clear that it would need a special performance today to come away with a point,” Farke said. “The lads concentrated on what they can influence, and we didn’t allow them clear-cut chances. We showed a lot of character and determination, and it’s a great result for us.”
The draw was a notable achievement for Leeds, who restricted Liverpool to few chances and earned a valuable point in their battle for survival. Farke added: “It was a really, really balanced performance, and we come back with a hard-earned point and a clean sheet. It’s not just good for the table but good for the mood. It’s definitely a really good day.”
Despite being without several regular starters, Farke’s team showed impressive spirit and determination, and the manager praised his players for their efforts. “Today was proof that we need every player to chip in,” he said. “There were some impressive individual performances under the circumstances. We didn’t have the luxury of having our full squad, but the lads stepped up and showed what they’re capable of.”
The draw also highlighted the importance of Ampadu to the Leeds team, and Farke knows that his side will miss him dearly in the upcoming match against Manchester United. “Ethan is a key player for us, and we’ll definitely miss him,” Farke said. “He’s been a huge part of our team this season, and his absence will be felt. But we have to move on and prepare for the next game. We can’t dwell on what happened today. We have to keep pushing forward and see where we can go from here.”
As Leeds looks to navigate the challenging run-in, Farke knows that his team will need to be resilient and determined if they are to achieve their goal of survival. “It’s going to be tough,” Farke said. “We know that. But we have to believe in ourselves and our abilities. We’ve shown what we’re capable of, and we just need to keep doing what we’re doing. We’ll take the positives from today’s result and build on them. We’ll keep working hard and see where it takes us.”
The draw against Liverpool was a valuable result for Leeds, and Farke believes that it will give his team a boost going forward. “It’s a great feeling knowing that we’ve earned a point against a top team like Liverpool,” Farke said. “We’ll take the positives from the game and use them to fuel our next match. We’ll keep pushing forward and see what we can achieve.”
