Ao Tanaka’s 96th-minute equaliser was a crazy finish to an unbelievable week of Premier League drama for those of a Leeds United persuasion, as Daniel Farke’s side earned a point against Liverpool.
Daniel Farke has saved his job in the last three games, after enormous pressure on the 49ers to remove the German. Despite a second-half comeback against Man City, it was a sixth loss in seven Leeds games.
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It gave Leeds fans hope and a new system to believe in. The 3-5-2 worked to perfection against Chelsea, beating Enzo Maresca’s side 3-1 on Wednesday night, and it was used again when Leeds faced Liverpool.
It was 0-0 at half-time, but it finished 3-3 in a quite remarkable second half that saw Leeds come back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to draw level. Ao Tanaka scored Leeds’ third from a corner in the 96th minute.
Once again, Farke deserves credit. His substitutions all worked. Willy Gnonto started the comeback by winning a penalty, before Brenden Aaronson got an assist and then Tanaka, another sub, scored for Leeds.
Willy Gnonto posts on Instagram after Leeds United cameo
It has been a difficult season for Gnonto. Having started the first three games, Gnonto then picked up a calf issue and underwent hernia surgery, keeping him on the sidelines for seven Premier League games.
He started against Man City, but was hooked, and the 3-5-2 system doesn’t allow for wingers. For the Italian to play, the winger requires a change in formation or for Farke to decide to throw him up front.
But on Saturday, Gnonto served Farke and Leeds fans a reminder that he can make an impact at this level. It was his intelligence that won Leeds a penalty, delaying a cross, inviting contact from Ibrahima Konate.
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What a week!
After the game, Gnonto posted on Instagram, having been the architect and the one to initiate Leeds’ comeback to earn a point. A fan favourite, Gnonto can wake up on Sunday happy with his work.
Ao Tanaka describes Willy Gnonto as a “game changer”
There is debate as to whether Gnonto conned the referee into making a decision. Michael Owen has a “problem” with VAR getting involved, even though the Liverpool legend does believe it was a penalty.
Arne Slot thinks Gnonto was going down before contact was made. But it changed the game and gave the Elland Road supporters hope. Ao Tanaka, Joe Rodon and other Leeds players replied to his post.
What did you make of Willy Gnonto’s cameo? 😍
Ao Tanaka called him a game changer 👏
Gnonto and Leeds now get a break for a week after such an exhausting period against three of the Premier League’s best sides, before going to an impressive Brentford side next Sunday afternoon.
Crystal Palace comes a week after that, before Leeds face the surprise package of the season and one of the other two sides that were also promoted with Farke’s men, in Sunderland, at the end of the month.
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