Leeds United's Ao Tanaka scored deep into stoppage time to earn his side a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, rifling home from a corner at the back post to salvage a valuable point after a frenetic fight-back.
After a sluggish first half, Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike netted twice in just over two minutes after the break, but a penalty from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and a brilliantly worked goal from Anton Stach in a three-minute spell got Leeds back level.
Dominik Szoboszlai looked to have sealed it for Liverpool with a coolly taken goal in the 80th minute to silence the home crowd, but his side's defensive frailties were exposed again when Tanaka was left unmarked at the far post to score six minutes into stoppage time.
The draw leaves Liverpool eighth in the table on 23 points, while Leeds move up to 16th spot with 15 points from their 15 games so far.
Leeds vs Liverpool live
- Leeds host Liverpool in the Premier League | Live on Sky Sports
- Leeds: Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Gruev, Ampadu, Stach, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
- Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Jones, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Ekitike
- GOAL! Leeds 0-1 Liverpool (Ekitike, 48 mins)
- GOAL! Leeds 0-2 Liverpool (Ekitike, 51 mins)
- GOAL! Leeds 1-2 Liverpool (Calvert-Lewin pen, 72 mins)
- GOAL! Leeds 2-2 Liverpool (Stach, 75 mins)
- GOAL! Leeds 2-3 Liverpool (Szoboszlai, 80 mins)
- GOAL!!! Leeds 3-3 Liverpool (90+5 min)
Slot’s Liverpool misery deepens
21:07 , Lawrence OstlereAo Tanaka’s 96th-minute equaliser denied the Premier League champions at the death at Hugo Ekitike had earlier opened a two-goal lead.
Read Richard Jolly’s report:
Arne Slot’s Liverpool misery deepens as Ao Tanaka delivers again for spirited Leeds
We didn't need Salah, says Slot
20:28 , Lawrence OstlereHere’s Arne Slot, explaining why he didn’t use Salah tonight:
“We were 2-0 up, we were 3-2 up. At that moment in time it was more about controlling the game and we didn't need a goal at that moment in time.
"Normally when you need a goal, like last week against Sunderland, I brought Mo on. We needed different players like Wataru [Endo] when we needed to bring the win over the line.
"He gave everything. We have to accept the situation we are in. The short term future of Mo is that he is going to the Africa Cup of Nations but before that we play Inter Milan."
Full-time: Leeds 3-3 Liverpool
20:07 , Lawrence OstlereWhat a night for this man:
🥶 Ice cold Tanaka! pic.twitter.com/PUO1riNp3H
— Leeds United (@LUFC) December 6, 2025
Full-time: Leeds 3-3 Liverpool
19:48 , Lawrence OstlereAnton Stach: “These are the moments why we play football. It’s a big strength that we come back against the champions of last year. It was because of the atmosphere. After the penalty, it was so loud. Of course you are tired, but then you score a goal, and when the crowd are so loud it’s like a switch in your head and then you can run more.
“It’s great to take four points [against Chelsea and Liverpool].”
Full-time: Leeds 3-3 Liverpool
19:41 , Lawrence OstlereTanaka speaks to Sky Sports: “Fantastic atmosphere. We were losing but nobody ever gave up.
“Amazing game. We are still [near the] bottom, so we have to be better.”
Full-time: Leeds 3-3 Liverpool
19:36 , Lawrence OstlereThat wild moment at the finish:
Leeds deserved the draw
19:31 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadRichard Jolly at Elland Road:
Ridiculous second half after a rather dull first. Leeds certainly deserved their point. But from 2-0 and 3-2, Liverpool let that slip. Their defensive issues were all too apparent again.
Full-time: Leeds 3-3 Liverpool
19:30 , Lawrence OstlereWow. An extraordinary game.
Leeds 3-3 Liverpool
19:28 , Lawrence Ostlere90+7 min: Isak tries a long shot and just misses the target. Is there one more twist in this game?
GOAL!!! Leeds 3-3 Liverpool (90+5 min)
19:27 , Lawrence OstlereThey’ve done it!!! Ao Tanaka pounces on a loose ball at the back post from a corner and fires home Leeds’ third! Shambolic defending.
Leeds 2-3 Liverpool
19:22 , Lawrence Ostlere90+2 min: Joe Gomez is booked for a rash tackle.
Leeds 2-3 Liverpool
19:20 , Lawrence Ostlere90 min: There will be nine (!) minutes of added time. That seems punchy to me.
Leeds 2-3 Liverpool
19:20 , Lawrence Ostlere89 min: Struijk deliberately blocks Szoboszlai and he’s booked.
Leeds 2-3 Liverpool
19:16 , Lawrence Ostlere86 min: Sharp build-up by Leeds involving Gnonto and Aaronson, but the latter aims a weak shot at goal.
Leeds 2-3 Liverpool
19:14 , Lawrence Ostlere84 min: More changes by Slot. Endo and Isak on, Ekitike and Gakpo off.
Liverpool turn back clock a few months
19:13 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadRichard Jolly at Elland Road:
Liverpool letting a 2-0 lead slide and then going back ahead. This is like the start of the season
GOAL! Leeds 2-3 Liverpool (Szoboszlai, 80 mins)
19:11 , Lawrence OstlereThis is a lovely move by Liverpool, involving their three key midfielders. Gravenberch slides a pass towards Mac Allister who cleverly steps over the ball, and there is Dominik Szoboszlai on the edge of the box to slide home a smart finish.
Leeds 2-2 Liverpool
19:10 , Lawrence Ostlere78 min: Van Dijk arcs a header towards the far corner but Perri does really well to keep it out. Surely Slot turns to Salah and Isak now?
GOAL! Leeds 2-2 Liverpool (Stach, 75 mins)
19:06 , Lawrence OstlereThere it is!! Leeds work it down the left as Aaronson finds Stach in the box, who drops a shoulder to lose Jones before firing through bodies inside the near post. Great goal.
Konate made a needless error
19:05 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadRichard Jolly at Elland Road:
I may have spoken too soon when saying the defensive errors hadn't come from Liverpool... Ibrahima Konate probably didn't need to slide in there when he conceded the penalty. Elland Road, which was quiet, is now loud and could get louder in the next 20 minutes
GOAL! Leeds 1-2 Liverpool (Calvert-Lewin pen, 72 mins)
19:03 , Lawrence OstlereDominic Calvert-Lewin blasts the penalty with his side foot, if that’s possible, and it beats Alisson despite being quite central in the goal. Game on!
Penalty to Leeds!
19:02 , Lawrence OstlereNow then... Ibrahima Konate makes a sliding tackle on the byline but doesn’t get the ball, and Gnonto goes down. Elland Road roars and although Anthony Taylor ignores the penalty calls, VAR tells him to go to the screen.
Calvert-Lewin will take it...
Leeds 0-2 Liverpool
18:59 , Lawrence Ostlere68 min: Slot responds to Farke’s changes with two of his own. Joe Gomez and Alexis Mac Allister replace Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley.
Leeds 0-2 Liverpool
18:57 , Lawrence Ostlere66 min: Ekitike holds up the ball well before feeding Gakpo on the left of the box, whose shot is saved by Perri.
Farke changes his system
18:57 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadRichard Jolly at Elland Road:
Leeds are going 4-3-3 with that triple sub - the formation Daniel Farke was using before the half-time switch at Man City a week ago worked so well
Leeds 0-2 Liverpool
18:56 , Lawrence Ostlere64 min: A triple change by Daniel Farke: Wilfried Gnonto, Ao Tanaka and Brenden Aaronson replace Jaka Bijol, Noah Okafor and Ilia Gruev.
Leeds 0-2 Liverpool
18:55 , Lawrence Ostlere62 min: Good cross by Stach from the left, but Alisson makes an excellent save to deny Okafor at the back post.
Leeds 0-2 Liverpool
18:51 , Lawrence Ostlere58 min: Leeds are preparing some changes.
Leeds 0-2 Liverpool
18:44 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadRichard Jolly at Elland Road:
Two goals in three minutes. Hugo Ekitike had got too little service from his teammates so Joe Rodon generously donated the opener. Conor Bradley made the second, with a strong challenge on Gabriel Gudmundsson. For once, the defensive errors have not come from Liverpool
GOAL! Leeds 0-2 Liverpool (Ekitike, 51 mins)
18:43 , Lawrence OstlereAnother!! It’s a lovely cross by Conor Bradley and Ekitike knocks it home. It’s checked by VAR, and the striker is just onside.
GOAL! Leeds 0-1 Liverpool (Ekitike, 48 mins)
18:41 , Lawrence OstlereWhat a start to the second half – Hugo Ekitike pounces on a Joe Rodon mistake and puts Liverpool in front! He had to escape a couple of defenders there, wonderfully done.
Half-time: Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
18:32 , Lawrence OstlereThe players are back out for the second half. Will there be any changes?
Liverpool's balance still off
18:26 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadRichard Jolly at Elland Road:
Quite an uneventful first half after that early flurry of chances for Leeds. While Curtis Jones hit the bar, a concern for Liverpool should be that they have not had enough creativity. They are trying to be more solid - one reason why Mo Salah was dropped - but they haven't got the right balance.
Half-time: Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
18:20 , Lawrence OstlereAll square at the break, and not a lot to choose between the teams. Hopefully a better 45 minutes to come.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
18:19 , Lawrence Ostlere45 min: Conor Bradley is booked for a late sliding challenge. That will earn him a suspension, as it’s his fifth yellow card of the season.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
18:14 , Lawrence Ostlere41 min: Liverpool come forwards down the right but the link up between Wirtz and Ekitike is off, and then the latter is penalised for a foul.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
18:11 , Lawrence Ostlere38 min: Gakpo gets a shot off on the counterattack but it’s deflected wide. Corner.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
18:10 , Lawrence Ostlere36 min: Struijk tries to get a shot off from a corner but misses the target.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
18:05 , Lawrence Ostlere31 min: Cody Gakpo clips in a cross but it doesn’t find a Liverpool shirt.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
17:58 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadRichard Jolly at Elland Road:
Another moment of indecision from Virgil van Dijk a couple of minutes back. It is as though errors and uncertainty in the Liverpool defence have become contagious this season.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
17:52 , Lawrence Ostlere20 min: Szoboszlai’s free-kick flies over the bar.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
17:51 , Lawrence Ostlere18 min: Leeds have a corner which pings around in the box, but Liverpool manage to clear and burst forwards with Ekitike. He finds Gakpo who is fouled by Bogle, and that’s a yellow card.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
17:47 , Lawrence Ostlere13 min: Liverpool put on the pressure. Curtis Jones tries a curling effort it bounces back off the bar! Great effort from outside the box.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
17:43 , Lawrence Ostlere9 min: Milos Kerkez has fired a shot off target, as Liverpool make a rare foray forwards. Moments later, Ekitike takes a bit of a whack in the face and wants a penalty, but it’s not happening.
Leeds hunting Liverpool early
17:38 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadRichard Jolly at Elland Road:
Three early efforts from Leeds, showing they are carrying on where they left off against Chelsea, and perhaps also that they feel Liverpool could be vulnerable. It always seemed likely that Leeds could be quite direct and look for set-pieces. The first few minutes have been no shock in that respect.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
17:36 , Lawrence Ostlere5 min: Gudmundsson now gets a shot away, but misses the target. Elland Road is noisy tonight.
Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
17:34 , Lawrence Ostlere2 min: An early chance for Noah Okafor, who pulls his shot just wide of the far post. Liverpool immediately under pressure.
Kick-off! Leeds 0-0 Liverpool
17:33 , Lawrence OstlereUnderway in Yorkshire.
Leeds v Liverpool
17:29 , Lawrence OstlereThe players are out on the pitch at Elland Road. Kick-off is moments away...
Slot responds to Salah question
17:22 , Lawrence OstlereKick-off is less than 10 minutes away. Here’s Arne Slot, explaining (or not) his decision to leave out Mohamed Salah once again: “It’s never an easy decision because we all know what a great player he is. But it is also up to me to pick the team that I think we need today. That’s why I made the decision.”
A bad time to face Leeds?
17:17 , Richard Jolly at Elland RoadHere’s Richard Jolly at Elland Road:
Mohamed Salah takes his now familiar place on the bench even as Arne Slot makes four changes. It is no shock to see Alexander Isak among the substitutes, with Slot still cautious about the Swede's fitness. Conor Bradley was expected back in the squad but it is safe to say many did not think he would start today. For Liverpool, this could be a bad time to face Leeds, who are fresh from defeating Chelsea.
Virgil van Dijk details how Florian Wirtz can ignite Liverpool career after latest setback
17:10 , Chris WilsonIf few know what it has been like to be Florian Wirtz in the last few months, Virgil van Dijk probably has a better idea than most, and not merely because he is a Liverpool FC teammate. The Dutchman has been there: signed for a supersized fee, with sky-high expectations, arriving from a smaller club to be plunged into the spotlight as Liverpool’s record buy. Wirtz became Liverpool’s first £100m man. Yet Van Dijk’s cost might have stood out still more: some £75m, making him the most expensive defender in history when he joined in 2018.
But there their paths diverged. Van Dijk ranked as an immediate success. He scored a late winner on his Liverpool debut; to compound it, it was a Merseyside derby. Wirtz got an assist four minutes into his Liverpool career but it was in a Community Shield that was lost. After 18 games and four months, he still has not scored. Even when he thought he did, Liverpool’s equaliser against Sunderland on Wednesday was instead deemed a Nordi Mukiele own goal.
Van Dijk details how Wirtz can ignite Liverpool career after latest setback
Betting Offer
17:05 , Staff WriterIf betting is your thing, online bookmakers Parimatch are offering new customers 40/1 on Leeds to score against Liverpool this evening, which will may be of appeal to some punters given Liverpool’s defensive woes this season. Important to note the maximum bet is £1 and winnings are paid out in free bets.
Head-to-head
16:50 , Chris WilsonThese two sides have met 100 times in the past, with Liverpool winning 54, Leeds winning 23 and 23 ending as draws.
They last met in the 2022/23 Premier League season, where the Reds fell to a 2-1 loss at home before winning 6-1 away in April 2023.
Arne Slot rebuffs Alexander Isak criticism with Erling Haaland comparison
16:40 , Chris WilsonArne Slot has rebuffed criticism of Alexander Isak’s lack of involvement for Liverpool by drawing comparisons to the Premier League’s most prolific striker, Erling Haaland.
British record signing Isak is yet to prove his worth at Liverpool and only boasts two goals in 12 appearances, with it taking until last weekend for the Swede to finally notch his first Premier League strike of the season.
But unlike fellow £100m man Florian Wirtz, there have been little signs of improvement in terms of Isak’s wider play, often struggling to get involved in Liverpool’s attacking moves.
Arne Slot rebuffs Alexander Isak criticism with Erling Haaland comparison
Leeds team news
16:35 , Lawrence OstlereDaniel Farke makes two changes to his Leeds team, as Ilia Gruev and Noah Okafor come into the starting XI.
Liverpool team news
16:29 , Lawrence OstlereSo Arne Slot makes four changes to the team who drew with Sunderland in midweek, and yet Salah is on the bench for the third game in a row. Isak is there too, as Ekitike comes into the attack alongside Gakpo and Wirtz. Bradley, Jones and Kerkez also come into the Liverpool team.
Confirmed line-ups – no Salah again!
16:21 , Lawrence OstlereLeeds: Perri, Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson, Gruev, Ampadu, Stach, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor.
Subs: Darlow, Byram, Justin, Bonauw, Tanaka, Harrison, Aaronson, Gnonto, Piroe.
Liverpool: Alisson, Bradley, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez, Jones, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Ekitike.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Endo, Isak, Mac Allister, Salah, Chiesa, Robertson, Ngumoha.
Team news
16:10 , Chris WilsonThe line-ups will be released in the next five minutes, so here’s reminder of the early team news for both sides...
Leeds have no further injury concerns after the win over Chelsea, with only Daniel James and Sean Longstaff missing. James Justin was a substitute on Wednesday and could push for a starting spot after returning from injury.
Liverpool may be able to call on Conor Bradley as he returns from a muscle issue, which would be a welcome boost after their recent defensive woes.
All eyes will be on the team sheets as Mohamed Salah was benched for back-to-back games at West Ham and against Sunderland, with the Egyptian brought off the bench against the Black Cats but unable to produce his magic of old.
Dominik Szoboszlai hits out at ‘unacceptable’ Liverpool situation
16:00 , Chris WilsonDominik Szoboszlai believes Liverpool’s current plight is unacceptable and admitted they have a lot of work to do to get back to winning ways.
Liverpool have lost nine of their last 14 games in all competitions, including six of their nine most recent in the Premier League, and Szoboszlai feels they cannot think about a top-four finish at the moment.
Liverpool go to Leeds on Saturday after drawing 1-1 with Sunderland at Anfield, meaning they have not won in their last three matches at home.
Dominik Szoboszlai hits out at ‘unacceptable’ Liverpool situation
When is Leeds v Liverpool?
15:50 , Chris WilsonLeeds host Liverpool at Elland Road on Saturday 6 December, with kick-off at 5.30pm.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
Predicted line-ups
15:41 , Chris WilsonLeeds XI: Perri; Rodon, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Stach, Tanaka, Ampadu, Gudmundsson; Calvert-Lewin, Nmecha
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Chiesa; Ekitike
Liverpool team news
15:37 , Chris WilsonLiverpool may be able to call on Conor Bradley as he returns from a muscle issue, which would be a welcome boost after their recent defensive woes.
All eyes will be on the team sheets as Mohamed Salah was benched for back-to-back games at West Ham and against Sunderland, with the Egyptian brought off the bench against the Black Cats but unable to produce his magic of old.
Leeds team news
15:33 , Chris WilsonLeeds have no further injury concerns after the win over Chelsea, with only Daniel James and Sean Longstaff missing. James Justin was a substitute on Wednesday and could push for a starting spot after returning from injury.
Good afternoon
15:30 , Chris WilsonLeeds face Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday in a clash which could be surprisingly close given the respective fortunes of both teams at the start of the season.
While Leeds are hovering just outside the relegation zone, two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham, Daniel Farke’s men enjoyed a huge boost in a stunning 3-1 win over high-fliers Chelsea on Wednesday.
Elland Road proved a fortress against the Blues as Jaka Bijol, Ao Tanaka and Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed a noteworthy win. Farke will be hoping for more of the same against a Liverpool side who only just avoided a 10th defeat in 14 games by scraping a point against Sunderland last time out.
Arne Slot remains under huge pressure despite that 1-1 draw and Liverpool will be hoping they can reproduce the result from their last visit to a relegation-threatened side, West Ham.
Leeds v Liverpool
15:22 , Lawrence OstlereHello and welcome to live coverage of Leeds v Liverpool in the Premier League.
