Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Blow

Leeds stun Liverpool late on to pour more misery on Jurgen Klopp - 5 talking points

Liverpool's Premier League woes continued on Saturday night, as they lost 2-1 to Leeds in an enthralling clash at Anfield.

Rodrigo opened the scoring for the visitors early on, but Mohamed Salah ensured the game was level at the break. Both Liverpool and Leeds enjoyed opportunities in the second half, yet it was Crysencio Summerville's last-minute winner which secured the points.

Liverpool remain ninth in the Premier League following the loss - 13 points behind leaders and champions Manchester City. Leeds, meanwhile, have jumped out of the bottom three to ease the pressure on manager Jesse Marsch. Here are the main talking points.

Liverpool slip up... and so does Klopp

It's fair to say Liverpool's Premier League campaign hasn't gone to plan so far. Heading into Saturday night's game, they had won just four of their first 11 fixtures and lost 1-0 to basement boys Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in their previous outing.

The Reds couldn't afford any more slip up against Leeds, but Klopp didn't get the memo. The German comically slipped on his way to the dugout before kick-off. Thankfully he was OK, but it wasn't the last mistake a Liverpool employee would make on Saturday night.

Just four minutes into the game, Joe Gomez played a back pass to Alisson without looking where the goalkeeper was. As it turned out, Alisson wasn't in his six-yard box and slipped as the ball rolled into the path of Leeds striker Rodrigo for the easiest of goals.

Rodrigo took advantage of an early Liverpool mistake (AFP via Getty Images)

Another milestone for Salah

Although it wasn't a great start from Liverpool, they can never be written off with Salah in their ranks. The Egyptian equalised just moments after Rodrigo's early goal thanks to some teasing crosses from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.

Alexander-Arnold's ball fell to Robertson after Leeds' defence desperately tried to clear it, allowing the Scot to pick out an unmarked Salah in the box. Liverpool's talisman couldn't miss from six yards and Gomez's early mistake was confined to the annals of history.

Speaking of history, Salah is now Liverpool's second-highest scorer in the Premier League after overtaking Steven Gerrard's tally of 121 goals. Robbie Fowler (128) holds the record. Robertson, meanwhile, has become the second defender to achieve 50 assists in the Premier League after Leighton Baines (53). Alexander-Arnold will surely become the third.

What did you make of Liverpool's performance on Saturday night? Let us know in the comments below!

Mohamed Salah equalised for Liverpool (AFP via Getty Images)

End-to-end stuff

Liverpool would've liked to have stamped their authority on the game after Salah's equaliser, yet Leeds didn't give in. Their first opportunity came from Rasmus Kristensen, who picked out boyhood Liverpool fan Brenden Aaronson with a delicious cross.

Frustratingly for Marsch's side, Aaronson's header smacked the crossbar. The visitors had another golden opportunity seconds later when Jack Harrison was played through on goal. Yet the former England youth international couldn't beat the big Brazilian.

Liverpool also had chances before the break. The best came through Darwin Nunez, who was put through on goal but failed to get the better of Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier and his outstretched left leg. Yet neither team could take the lead before half-time.

It was a pulsating night at Anfield (Getty Images)

Meslier thwarts Nunez

After a quiet start to the second half, the game burst back into life just before the hour. Patrick Bamford's unexpected long-range effort tested Alisson, while Robertson stung Meslier's palms with a powerful strike. Both teams were searching for that golden chance.

It came in the 66th minute when pressure from Salah forced Leeds skipper Liam Cooper into a mistake. The Egyptian picked up possession and teed up Nunez on his left foot, but Liverpool's £85million man was denied by Meslier once again.

Nunez had another crack at goal moments later. This time it was all his own making, as he controlled the ball of the edge of the box and tried to bend an effort into the far corner. Frustratingly for the Uruguayan, Meslier produced another tremendous save.

Illan Meslier produced three big saves to deny Darwin Nunez (AFP via Getty Images)
Crysencio Summerville's last-minute winner snatched the points for Leeds (AFP via Getty Images)

Bamford's bad touch doesn't matter

As the game wore on, a home winner seemed more likely than a Leeds one. But the counter remained an option for Marsch's side and they nearly took advantage of Liverpool's dominance in the final 10 minutes when Bamford found himself in front of goal.

All the Englishman had to do was take a touch and smash an effort at Alisson, yet his touch was appalling. Bamford failed to take the ball in his stride and Leeds fans were left in disbelief and wondering if his blunder would be punished by a late Liverpool goal.

The answer was no. Summerville popped up in the 89th minute to score a winner and send the visiting fans absolutely wild.

What a finish - and what a blow for Klopp.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.