Leeds United fought back from a goal down to draw with Liverpool last night, amid controversy over the Reds’ Super League backing.
You wouldn’t have thought a game was being played based on the Monday Night Football coverage.
Rightly so, the pre-match talk was completely dominated by the Premier League ‘big six’ spearheading proposals for a breakaway ‘European Super League’.
With the game underway, it seemed a pretty flat affair at first as Liverpool dominated early on.
They got their reward as Sadie Mane rolled home after fine work from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The second half was a different story, though as Leeds took control and got a deserved equaliser late on.
It sees Leeds remain in 10th place, level on points with laughable Super League founders Arsenal.
Here, we deliver our player ratings from Elland Road as Leeds and Liverpool share the spoils…
Illan Meslier – 7
Steady performance from Meslier again.
He was caught short for the goal as he came out to smother Trent, but couldn’t do much else.
His confidence during distribution has you with your heart in your mouth, but it very rarely falters.
Luke Ayling – 7
Strong performance from Ayling and he can’t have many complaints.
On the left-wing, Mane obviously scored, but it was Pascal Struijk who lost him for the goal.
Diego Llorente – 9
Leeds’ best player on the night.
Llorente was dominant from start to finish, won everything in the air and on the ground.
His passing was outstanding as he looked to break the lines every time he took the ball.
Not only that but his powerful header late on earned Leeds a point to cap off a stunning display.
Pascal Struijk – 7
As we mentioned, he was caught napping for the goal but didn’t do a lot wrong before or after that.
He looks a steady partner to Llorente for the coming games.
Gjanni Alioski – 7
A daft challenge for his yellow card aside, Alioski was very solid.
He rarely looked under threat down his channel despite Liverpool’s insistence on bombarding our left side.
Kalvin Phillips – 7
Liverpool’s pressing in the first half rendered Phillips ineffective.
Once we took control, so did he.
With the Reds sat deep in the second half, Phillips took that chance to probe and play long balls out with to switch play well.
He should have had another assist against Liverpool when he read play brilliantly to play through Patrick Bamford after intercepting Fabinho’s pass.
Helder Costa – 5
It was a shame Costa couldn’t get into this game.
With Raphinha out, it gave him a huge chance to lay down a marker, but Andy Robertson had his number all game.
Stuart Dallas – 6
The Etihad Hero didn’t have much chance to shine once again in a scrappy midfield battle.
Liverpool’s trio in midfield did well to stop Leeds’ flow through the middle, and Dallas was on the receiving end.
Tyler Roberts – 6
Another frustrating one for Roberts.
He’s picking up vast areas of space almost at will against anyone he plays against, but it’s what he’s doing with it (or not) that’s the difference.
He had a glorious chance to equalise before we eventually did, but he lashed his shot straight at Alisson, when anywhere else would have been a goal.
Jack Harrison – 6
Similar to Costa, Harrison fell foul to a strong performance from Liverpool’s full-back.
He plugged away and nearly got his reward, and would have scored if not for a smart save from the Reds’ stopper.
Patrick Bamford – 7
It was a game dominated by his pressing more than his work in possession.
Bamford had to be patient for an opening and was unlucky with both.
The first from Phillips’ pass that he overcooked his first touch, and the second a fraction away as he lobbed Alisson only to hit the crossbar.
Subs
Ian Poveda – 7
Yet again, very lively from Poveda off the bench.
It’s not yet resulted in a goal for him, but it’s promising that he’s standing up some of the best left-backs in England, and beating them every time.
Pablo Hernandez – 6
Came on very late and managed a few neat passes. Nothing compared to what we know he can do.