Mens

Report: Liverpool 1-2 Leeds United

Memorable night at Anfield for the Whites.

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Premier League

Liverpool 1 (Salah 14’)

Leeds United 2 (Rodrigo 4’, Summerville 90')

Liverpool: Alisson (GK), Gomez, Fabinho (Jones 60’), van Dijk (C), Thiago, Firmino, Salah, Elliott (Henderson 60’), Robertson, Nunez, Alexander-Arnold (Milner 79’). Subs not used: Kelleher (GK), Konate, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tsimikas, Carvalho, Phillips.

Leeds: Meslier (GK), Koch, Cooper (C), Aaronson, Roca, Summerville (Ayling 90’), Harrison (Gnonto 72’), Adams, Rodrigo (Bamford 50’), Struijk, Kristensen. Subs not used: Robles (GK), Firpo, Llorente, Gelhardt, Greenwood, Klich.

Venue: Anfield

Attendance: TBC

Referee: Michael Oliver

Booked: Summerville (Leeds)

Leeds United won away at Liverpool in the final few seconds of the match, thanks to Crysencio Summerville’s winner. The goal was a reward for a stunning performance from every Whites player, who claimed a valuable three points.

Both teams came into the game aiming to bounce back from recent defeats and return to winning ways. It was the Whites got off to a perfect start at Anfield, taking the lead after just four minutes of the match.

Relentless pressing from Brenden Aaronson down the wing forced Joe Gomez into a loose pass, which evaded Alisson Becker who was out of his goal. Paying attention and able to capitalise on the mistake, Rodrigo went racing through to slot into an empty net.

The hosts responded though and were level in the match 10 minutes later, through the ever-threatening Mo Salah.

After a ball to the back post from Trent Alexander-Arnold had evaded everyone, Andy Robertson hit a first time cross back into the middle which found Salah running onto it, and he volleyed into the back of the net to make it one each.

The next two chances came the way of Leeds, who were pushing forward well in the match and creating well against the Reds, when seeing the opportunities to do so.

Rasmus Kristensen whipped in a cross which was pinpoint for Aaronson, who under pressure struck well but cannoned his effort against the crossbar. Seconds later, Rodrigo played in Jack Harrison on the edge of the box and his right-footed effort forced Alisson to make a good save.

Down the opposite end, Illan Meslier was called into action and made a superb stop to deny Darwin Nunez. The striker had been sent clean through on goal, but saw his effort denied by United’s number one.

There were two more chances before the interval - and they both went the way of Marsch’s side. Rodrigo forced a save from Alisson with a low effort, before moments later, Aaronson struck a free-kick over the bar after Crysencio Summerville was felled just outside the box.

An entertaining and hard-fought first half was brought to a close, sending both teams into their respective dressing rooms with the scores level at Anfield.

HALF TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Leeds United

Five minutes after the restart to the second half, the Whites were forced into a change. Rodrigo was withdraw in place of Patrick Bamford, in a straight swap at the top end of the pitch.

It was approaching the hour-mark in the match from when either team had efforts on goal, after the break. The recently introduced Bamford struck a first time half-volley which he saw saved, whilst Nunez struck wide down the other end before Robertson then tested Meslier but the ‘keeper held the ball firmly in his grip.

The performance up to 65 minutes in the match had been excellent from the Whites and the packed out away end, as always, showed their encouragement to the team. Both Liam Cooper and Tyler Adams had been everywhere on the pitch, heading and kicking every ball along the way.

When the home side did have another big chance, it was Salah who created it. He seized on a loose ball and played in Nunez on the left, giving the striker a clear chance on goal, but Meslier was brilliantly out to save his shot again.

From a corner moments later, the ‘keeper was again called into action. Nunez has placed his header off target but lurking at the back post was Henderson, who forced Meslier to make another goal-saving stop.

The 72nd minute saw a debut for Italy international, Wilfried Gnonto. Harrison was the player replaced after a hard-working solid shift down the left-hand-side of the pitch.

In what had been a stunning performance throughout the full 90 minutes, Meslier produced three further excellent saves, from Nunez again, then Roberto Firmino, followed by another from Salah.

As five minutes of stoppage time were shown at the end of the match and all the bodies on the line, the last-ditch blocks, the calm heads, the saves from Meslier, they were all so, so worth it, as Marsch’s side didn’t settle for the draw, they went in search of and took the three points.

Gnonto showed his quality down the left to control the ball, get his head up and pick out Bamford in the box. The striker’s first touch was collected by Summerville to worked himself space, before poking home into the far corner.

The away end, the bench, and everyone else connected to Leeds United were jubilant in their celebrations which were seen again upon the full-time whistle, as they hold on to a precious three points under the Anfield floodlights.

FULL TIME: Liverpool 1-2 Leeds United

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