Liverpool were left stunned at Elland Road, just as Chelsea had been a few days beforehand, as Leeds United produced a miraculous comeback to steal a point on Saturday night.
Ao Tanaka slammed home a left-footed effort from a late Leeds corner to rescue Daniel Farke a point and guide Leeds to 16th in the Premier League table, after Everton brushed aside Sean Dyche’s Forest, 3-0.
Leeds and Liverpool had gone into the break, 0-0. However, Liverpool came out stronger after half-time, scoring two quick-fire goals, both of which were scored by Hugo Ekitike. Joe Rodon made a rare error.
Who was YOUR Leeds United Man of the Match against Liverpool?
Leeds retaliated. Farke made three changes, and they worked. One, Willy Gnonto, won a penalty, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored. Brenden Aaronson, another, found Anton Stach to score Leeds’ second.
Liverpool made it 3-2 soon after before a Stach corner found its way to Tanaka at the back post, and the Japan star capped off a brilliant week for him, and for Leeds as a club, to equalise with a super finish.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin earns ‘immense’ praise from Gary Neville
Having earned a penalty, Leeds needed a cool head to score and Calvert-Lewin provided it. The former Everton striker netted his third goal in three games, with a superbly taken spot-kick to Alisson’s left.
Gary Neville was on co-commentary duties on Saturday night and he heaped praise on Calvert-Lewin for his penalty, not only coping with the pressure, but the Leeds no.9’s impressive technique to score.
“What I will say about this penalty is that it’s only a yard past Alisson. So the power he’s got on it with his side foot is absolutely immense,” Neville said, as Calvert-Lewin halved the deficit for Leeds on 73 minutes.
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The Leeds manager changed the game against Liverpool with his subs
Anton Stach’s claim about Calvert-Lewin now makes sense
After his first goal for Leeds against Wolves during the Whites’ second win of the season, Stach was asked if Calvert-Lewin could make a claim for the England side as Thomas Tuchel prepares for the World Cup.
Since then, Calvert-Lewin had struggled before scoring at Man City as a sub during Leeds’ daring and yet, unsuccessful comeback. Calvert-Lewin scored again, the third of Leeds’ three goals against Chelsea.
On Saturday, a third goal in three games and a fourth of the season for Calvert-Lewin, albeit from the spot. England and Tuchel lack an in-form striker to go play back-up to Harry Kane at the World Cup.
Ollie Watkins is struggling for form, Danny Welbeck hasn’t played for England for some time and Ivan Toney is out in Saudi Arabia, which hasn’t helped him. Maybe, Calvert-Lewin could be a late consideration.
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