LIVERPOOL 4-3 LEEDS
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Jed Vine
MATCH EVENTS
4′ GOAL – Mohamed Salah (Penalty)
12′ GOAL – Jack Harrison (Assist – Kalvin Phillips)
20′ GOAL – Virgil van Dijk (Assist – Andy Robertson)
30′ GOAL – Patrick Bamford
33′ GOAL – Mohamed Salah
66′ GOAL – Mateusz Klich (Assist – Helder Costa)
88′ GOAL – Mohamed Salah (Penalty)
OVERVIEW
There was an instantaneous Premier League classic on Saturday as both of last season’s league champions battled to produce a 4-3 epic at Anfield.
Just four minutes into Leeds’ first top-flight game in 16 years, debutant Robin Koch gave away a penalty, as Mohamed Salah’s strike hit his outstretched arm. It was the Egyptian who stepped up, and he smashed his penalty into the roof of the net.
The Championship winners weren’t going to go down without a fight, though. Kalvin Phillips played a ball over the Liverpool back line to Man City loanee Jack Harrison, and the winger knocked the ball past Trent Alexander-Arnold with ease, before smashing a shot past Alisson at the near post, clawing the Whites level.
Just eight minutes later, Liverpool were ahead again. Robertson swung in a corner, and Koch lost his man in the box; that unmarked man just so happened to be Virgil van Dijk, and the Dutchman’s header proved too powerful for Meslier to keep out. Yet it was van Dijk who was to blame for Leeds’ second equaliser, as he failed to deal with Klich’s ball over the top, and Bamford was able to poke home his first Premier League goal since May 2017.
Not to be pegged back for long, Liverpool went ahead again. Struijk’s clearance from a free-kick only found Salah, and the attacker was able to arrow a half-volley right into the top corner just three minutes after the Reds had conceded. A topsy-turvy but brilliantly entertaining first half ended with Liverpool ahead.
However, Leeds managed to grab yet ANOTHER equaliser. Helder Costa’s cross into the box was masterfully controlled by Klich, and the Polish midfielder smashed a shot past Alisson into the back of the net, and the underdogs were on level terms once again.
But Liverpool mounted some late pressure on the Leeds back line, and their efforts were vindicated when statement signing Rodrigo’s clumsy challenge on Fabinho saw Liverpool awarded their second penalty of the game. In the 88′ minute, Salah stepped up to pass the ball past Meslier from 12 yards, completing his hat-trick in the process.
A truly valiant display from the top-flight newcomers, and Bielsa’s side will be disappointed to be leaving Anfield with no points on the table. Liverpool, whilst not playing their best football, still managed to overcome a real opening-day test, thanks to three goals from their Egyptian king.
PLAYER RATINGS
LIVERPOOL
Alisson – 5.5
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6.5
Joe Gomez – 7
Virgil van Dijk – 7.5 (GOAL 20′)
Andy Robertson – 8 (ASSIST 20′)
Georginio Wijnaldum – 7
Jordan Henderson – 7.5
Naby Keïta – 7.5
Mohamed Salah – 10 (MOTM) (GOAL 4′, 33′, 88′)
Embed from Getty ImagesRoberto Firmino – 7
Sadio Mane – 7
Subs:
Fabinho – 7
Curtis Jones – 6.5
Joel Mateo – N/A
LEEDS
Illan Meslier – 6
Luke Ayling – 8
Robin Koch – 5.5
Pascal Struijk – 6
Stuart Dallas – 7
Kalvin Phillips – 7.5 (ASSIST 12′)
Helder Costa – 7.5 (ASSIST 66′)
Pablo Hernández – 6.5
Mateusz Klich – 8.5 (GOAL 66′)
Jack Harrison – 8 (GOAL 12′)
Patrick Bamford – 7.5 (GOAL 30′)
Subs:
Tyler Roberts – 6.5
Rodrigo Moreno – 4.5
Jamie Shackleton – N/A
