Leeds 3–3 Liverpool: Tanaka’s Stoppage-Time Strike Stuns Slot’s Side

Liverpool missed a golden opportunity to move into the top five as Leeds United struck deep into stoppage time to force a dramatic 3–3 draw at an ecstatic Elland Road.

Arne Slot once again left Mohamed Salah out of the starting XI for a third consecutive fixture, while Conor Bradley returned from a muscular injury at a vital moment, with Joe Gomez sidelined after picking up a knock against Sunderland. Bradley also entered the contest one booking away from suspension which he did collect. After receiving his fifth yellow card of the season, Conor Bradley will now miss Liverpool’s fixture against Brighton.

Leeds matched their visitors in intensity and organisation, and by the interval the contest remained goalless. Both sides failed to register a shot on target, though not without moments of promise. Curtis Jones struck the crossbar, while Virgil van Dijk met a cross only to guide his header narrowly over the bar. Neither team would have felt short-changed at half-time.

The game burst into life three minutes after the restart. Capitalising on a defensive lapse in the 48th minute, Hugo Ekitike was presented with a clear opening and calmly steered a low finish past Illan Meslier to give Liverpool the lead.

Moments later, just after an Ekitike penalty appeal was waved away, Bradley delivered a superb cross from the right. The French striker made it two goals in two minutes, doubling Liverpool’s advantage. It was a landmark moment: Ekitike became the first Liverpool player to score twice in a Premier League match this season, and the first Frenchman to net a league double for the Reds since Djibril Cissé against West Ham in April 2006. What had begun as a promising afternoon for Leeds quickly unravelled.

Despite Liverpool’s control, the hosts were handed a route back into the contest. Ibrahima Konaté slid carelessly into Wilfried Gnonto inside the penalty area, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin made no mistake from the spot, blasting the ball past Alisson. Scoring for the third consecutive game, he reduced the deficit to 2–1.

Leeds completed the comeback soon after. Anton Stach was afforded too much space on the edge of the area and Liverpool were punished as he planted a composed 10-yard finish into the net to draw the hosts level.

The visitors responded again to reclaim the lead in an increasingly chaotic second half. Ryan Gravenberch fired a low cross to the edge of the area, Alexis Mac Allister intelligently stepped over the ball, and Dominik Szoboszlai took a touch before rifling a precise finish into the bottom-left corner.

Elland Road was revived once more when Leeds found a third equaliser in the closing stages. Ao Tanaka scoring his second goal in the space of a week reacted quickest at the back post after Stach’s corner deflected off Gravenberch’s arm. The Japanese midfielder produced a superb angled finish to make it 3–3 and send the home supporters into raptures.

Leeds’ remarkable recent form continues to defy expectations. Having pushed Manchester City close, beaten Chelsea, and now salvaged a point against the defending champions after trailing 2–0, they climb to 16th in the table in a week that once threatened to drag them toward the Championship.

For Liverpool, the frustration grows. They had the chance to move into the top five, but familiar defensive vulnerabilities particularly from set pieces once again proved decisive. Slot’s side remain eighth for now, with questions mounting over their consistency.