Leeds 3 Liverpool 3
What a ridiculous second half. The first half all things considered was quite boring with both teams creating relatively little with Liverpool controlling most of the half but not really creating anything significant, the second half was the complete opposite of the first with Hugo Ekitike scoring two quickfire goals to put Liverpool 2 nil up by the 50th minute. Liverpool were then pretty comfortable up until Konate makes a ridiculous challenge on Willfried Gnonto who was going nowhere to give Leeds a penalty to get them back in the game, 2 minutes later it’s 2-2 and you think Leeds have all the momentum going into the last 10 minutes but Szoboszlai puts Liverpool back in front with what we thought was the winner but in the 95th minute Tanaka scores from a Leeds corner to get Leeds a well earned point, what a crazy half of football.
The relationship between Mo Salah and Arne Slot is over. Whilst I don’t want to make this piece all about Salah’s post-match interview it’s obviously what everyone is talking about. We knew something was up when Salah didn’t even get on the pitch in this game but I don’t think anyone could foresee what Salah would come out and say to reporters after the game. I’ll not quote everything he said but I think it’s important to give put a few words of what he said here, “ I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden we don't have any relationship. I don't know why but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn't want me in the club. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.” It looks like something is going to have to give, whether it’s Salah leaving Liverpool or Slot leaving Liverpool, what a crazy turn of events at Liverpool.
Daniel Farke is proving the doubters wrong. Before the City game there was a report that if Leeds didn’t get positive results in there next 3 games that Daniel Farke would be sacked by Leeds, those next 3 games were against Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. I don’t think even the most hopeful Leeds fan would have predicted not only the positive results but the level of performances by this Leeds side. Leeds now sit in 16th, 2 points above the relegation zone and it will interesting to see how Leeds match up against the weaker sides with the way Farke has set up the side in the last 3 games. That match against Brentford next week will tell us a lot about this Leeds team and if they can stay up this year.
Ekitike has to be starting more matches for Liverpool. Whilst his 2 goals today were his first since September every time Hugo Ekitike plays in this Liverpool team he looks sharp and gives the team something that Alexander Isak simply doesn’t at the moment, he took his 2 goals today brilliantly and it will be interesting to see if Slot changes the attack up against Inter during the week and if Isak comes back into the team after a great performance from Ekitike. Can Slot find a way to get them to play together or is it going to be one or the other?
How long is this form from Liverpool going to go on for? You feel like at some point there has to come a time when this Liverpool team clicks, there are too many great players for it not to, whether it’s Wirtz, Isak, Mac Allister etc who are all underperforming at the minute these are players who have the ability to pull Liverpool out of the mess they are currently in. The defensive issues are glaring with Konate looking his head is anywhere but Liverpool at the minute, Liverpool are going to have to invest in January especially at the back and you wonder if Guehi still wants to join with the issues Liverpool have at the minute.