Leeds United made a dramatic return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence as they produced a magnificent display only to lose to a late penalty in a thriller against champions Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool, back in action after winning their first title in 30 years, led three times but were pegged back on each occasion by Marcelo Bielsa’s fearless side before this superb match was settled by hat-trick hero Mohamed Salah’s spot-kick.
Leeds looked to be leaving Anfield with a fully deserved point only for new £30m striker Rodrigo, on as a substitute, to produce a shocking challenge on Fabinho in the 88th minute, leaving Salah to give Liverpool victory after a serious scare.
Listen to the boss on #LIVLEE, Mo’s hat-trick and more on @LFCTV GO ????️
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2020
Salah made it a nightmare start for last season’s Championship winners when he drilled home a penalty in the fourth minute after his shot was handled by another Leeds new boy, Germany defender Robin Koch.
Leeds produced the perfect response as Jack Harrison drilled a low right-foot shot past Alisson only for poor defending to allow Virgil van Dijk to restore Liverpool’s advantage as he headed in Andy Robertson’s corner.
Van Dijk was badly at fault when he gifted Patrick Bamford Leeds’ second before a searing strike from Salah completed the scoring in a chaotic first half.
In a game which also contained four disallowed goals, Leeds were not to be brushed aside and were level again after 66 minutes when a perfect first touch and volley from Mateusz Klich flashed past Alisson.
Man of the match Salah had the final word, however, after that reckless late challenge from Rodrigo.
Leeds so unlucky to lose
The presence of manager Bielsa alone will add to the theatre of the Premier League and his vibrant, attacking Leeds United side already promise to decorate the top flight.
Leeds could have feared the worst when Liverpool capped a rampant opening spell by scoring from the spot even before the visitors had secured possession in the opposition half.
Not a bit of it.
Leeds got on the ball, were bursting with energy and attacked Liverpool every time they had the chance, playing with confidence and self-belief.
Three times they went behind but not for one moment did their heads drop or was their positive intent diminished, as proved by the manner in which they fought their way back into the game.
The final injury was cruel but self-inflicted, Rodrigo’s ludicrous challenge on Fabinho drawing the inevitable penalty that cost Leeds a point.
There was so much to admire about Leeds in an attacking sense but there is also an air of naivety which they must address otherwise plenty of teams will fancy scoring goals against them.
Leeds conceded two penalties and from two set-pieces, although Salah scored a quite brilliant volley when they failed to clear a free-kick.
Bielsa and Leeds have created a hugely positive impression from what was arguably the toughest test of all, away to the champions on the opening day.
In the end, however, they had only Rodrigo to blame for giving Liverpool the chance to gratefully snatch victory.
Liverpool got the job done courtesy of Salah’s late penalty but this was an uncharacteristically sloppy display from the champions that relied on that Rodrigo challenge to get three points.
Salah was in imperious mood up front but elsewhere Leeds were able to hurry Liverpool out of their stride and run through their midfield in a manner which would have disturbed manager Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool were also occasionally shambolic at the back, cut open far too easily with even the normally unflustered Van Dijk knocked out of his stride, committing an awful error for Leeds’ second goal, while Trent Alexander-Arnold had a game he will want to forget.
Alexander-Arnold was rescued by the offside flag when he bizarrely headed Harrison’s lob into his own net and he will lead Liverpool’s relief at getting three points.
In attack, though, Liverpool have players such as Salah who can rescue them from any hazardous situation and so it proved again here.
