Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KOP ARE NOT SO SUPER NOW
It was all about the Mane for Reds until Llorente struck
‘EARN IT’ was the slogan on the Champions League T-shirts left in the Liverpool dressing room by Leeds.
And Leeds are making them do just that after they scored an 87th-minute equaliser to dent Kop hopes of a top-four finish.
Leeds wore the T-shirts during the warm-up as a protest against Liverpool’s involvement in the proposed new European Super League.
While they were entitled to make their point against European football becoming a closed shop, the stunt only increased Liverpool’s motivation.
But Leeds finished the stronger and earned a point when Diego Llorente headed home his first goal for the club.
It was the least Leeds deserved and they were the better side in the second half as they tried to cancel out Sadio Mane’s equaliser.
Llorente’s header from Jack Harrison’s corner continued Leeds’ fine run and ruined James Milner’s return to Elland Road in his first league game at his old club since 2004.
Liverpool also proved they can win league games without Mo Salah after Klopp started his 19goal top scorer on the bench.
Klopp felt Salah needed a breather and Mane stepped up by netting only his second league goal this year.
Patrick Bamford hit the bar for Leeds while
Tyler Roberts and Harrison were denied by the excellent Alisson.
For a behind closed doors game, there was plenty of action before kick-off.
A plane flew over Elland Road, trailing a banner in opposition to the proposed European Super League. Some
Liverpool fans protested against the Reds’ involvement, while a few Leeds supporters tried to target the visitors’ coach. Jurgen Klopp was angered by Leeds’ Champions League Tshirt stunt and Leeds director of football Victor Orta brandished one from the directors’ box at kick-off.
Leeds did Klopp’s team-talk for him and Thiago had an early swerving drive expertly touched over by Illan Meslier before Roberto Firmino whipped a shot into the arms of Leeds’ goalkeeper. Fabinho played at centre-half and his sloppy pass might easily have led to a Leeds goal. Kalvin Phillips pounced on his stray ball to feed Bamford.
But he took an extra touch he did not need, allowing Alisson to block his shot.
Marcelo Bielsa (left) saw his men suffocate Liverpool quite well with their high press before Trent Alexander-arnold lost Harrison to break it and create the opener on 31 minutes.
Diogo Jota picked out Alexander-arnold’s run down the right and he played a first-time ball inside for Mane to slot home only the Reds’ third first-half Premier League goal this year.
Mane’s cool finish also ended his nine-game drought in the Premier League and his lack of goals has been a major factor behind their struggles since the turn of the year.
Roberts and Jota fluffed chances before Leeds enjoyed a concerted spell of pressure.
It almost brought them an equaliser and Alisson saved from Harrison after great skill by Roberts to play the winger in.
Leeds got closer and Bamford saw a shot come off the bar. Alisson’s fine save denied Roberts before Llorente’s strike.