Ten minutes in, Leeds keeper, Lucas Perri catches Hugo Ekitiké and he goes down injured and requires on field treatment but luckily gets back up and on with the game. Five minutes later and Curtis Jones is denied by the crossbar with a spectacular shot on goal. Jayden Bogle goes into the referee’s book for tripping Cody Gakpo. Dominik Szoboszlai crosses in a free-kick and Virgil van Dijk heads over. It is a good chance. On the whole, Liverpool have started well and are relatively dominant, having most of the possession and more chances on goal.
After 36 minutes, Leeds have a double shot by both Pascal Struijk and Ilia Gruev who kick the ball simultaneously but it gets nowhere. Gakpo makes a nice run down the left but his shot is deflected wide.
It’s nil-nil at half-time and I’m a bit disappointed that we haven’t taken advantage of possession and territory. We are lacking that ruthless, incisive edge and need to improve if we are to get a result here at Elland Road.
Shortly after the break, and Hugo Ekitiké steps up, intercepting a sloppy mistake in the Leeds defense as they try to pass the ball out of trouble. Our star striker heads in on goal, composed and puts it into the back of the net. 1-0 to the Mighty Reds! A few moments later and Ekitiké goes down, claiming a penalty but it isn’t given. It’s all about our ç striker, though, and he meets a Connor Bradley cross to make it two goals in two minutes for Liverpool. Suspicions of offside and the game is stopped for it to be analyzed by the fourth official. The goal stands! 2-0.
Leeds have a half-hearted attempt, after a nice cross in from the left, but it is offside anyway. They aren’t offering much to get themselves back into the game. Gakpo gets a nice ball from Ekitike but cannot get his shot quite right. Alexis Mac Allister replaces Florian Wirtz and Joe Gomez comes on for Connor Bradley. Leeds have already made three substitutions. Wirtz has been relatively quiet this evening.
Leeds await a penalty decision when Ibrahima Konaté cynically brings down Wilfried Gnonto. VAR check confirms the penalty award. Dominic Calvert-Lewin makes the watching Everton fans happy and brings his side, Leeds United back into the game, just managing to score the spot kick past Alisson.
Oh, and by Christ, we’ve let it go again! Anton Stach gets the ball inside our box. Our shaky defense have just backed off and allowed the Leeds attack to penetrate. Stach converts it past our keeper and, all of a sudden, Leeds are on level terms. 2-2. The Leeds keeper does an excellent save to deny a Van Dijk header. Ryan Gravenberch plants the ball into the path of Dominik Szoboszlai. Mac Allister is very much responsible for assisting the goal by cleverly leaving the pass to go past him and on through to the Hungarian. Szoboszlai nicely slides it in. Ten minutes left and it’s 302 to Liverpool. Can we hold on?
Wataru Endo comes on for Gakpo and Ekitike is replaced by Alexander Isak. Pascal Struijk goes into the book for blocking Dominik Szoboszlai who goes down injured for a bit. Jeez: there are nine added minutes so it’s squeaky bum time for LFC supporters. Joe Gomez does a nasty foul on Wilfried Gnonto and gets a booking. Leeds are getting a bit desperate and using long ball methods. Off a corner and the inevitable happens and Leeds equalize through Ao Tanaka. Van Dijk does his best to argue the goal by claiming a foul but the ref is having none of it.
The final whistle blows and it finishes 3-3. It’s a second consecutive draw for Liverpool and we should have won today. Disappointing defense yet again. The Gods are not with us this season #ynwa
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