Here’s Andy Hunter’s match report from Anfield, which is my cue to head to the nearest sofa. Goodnight!
Give, Give, Give Me More, More, More
That was exhilarating stuff. A fearless Leeds equalised three times before eventually losing to a late penalty from Mo Salah. That also completed a hat-trick for Salah, who looked extremely sharp. The same can’t be said of both defences, though that only added to the entertainment. For 90 minutes, the world was a good place again.
Updated
Full time: Liverpool 4-3 Leeds
Peep peep! The Premier League is back, Leeds are back, fun is back.
90+3 min Roberts makes space nicely on the right only to overhit his cross.
90 min Four minutes of added time.
Updated
89 min Joel Matip replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has had a difficult night at right-back.
Updated
89 min That was such a stupid challenge from Rodrigo. A corner was bouncing around the area, and Fabinho was going nowhere. Rodrigo dangled a leg and tripped Fabinho.
Updated
GOAL! Liverpool 4-3 Leeds (Salah 88 pen)
Mo Salah completes a hat-trick with another excellent penalty, curled low to his left. Liverpool may finally - finally - have seen Leeds off.
Updated
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Rodrigo has fouled Fabinho, a brainless and needless challenge.
Updated
87 min Salah spins Dallas brilliantly and finds Mane, who moves inside and puts Firmino clear. He flicks the ball a little lazily towards goal and it’s blocked. That was a great chance.
Updated
85 min Firmino’s deflected long-range shot spins behind for a corner. It’s headed away by Struijk.
84 min Liverpool are starting to pin Leeds back. It’s been a delightful game, and a late winner for Liverpool would be really cruel on Leeds.
82 min Alexander-Arnold’s mishit cross clears Meslier and goes just over the bar.
81 min Another Leeds change: Jamie Shackleton replaces the goalscorer Mateusz Klich.
Updated
79 min: Van Dijk has a goal disallowed for offside! That’s the fourth goal that has been disallowed tonight. Robertson’s right-wing corner reached van Dijk in space at the far post, and he slammed it emphatically into the net. The reason he was in so much space was because Jones had tripped his marker Koch.
Updated
78 min Salah pushes a low cross into the path of Wijnaldum, whose first-time shot is brilliantly blocked by Klich.
Updated
76 min A lovely free-kick from Phillips curls just wide. Alisson had it covered, I think, but it was a fine effort.
76 min Firmino is booked for a deliberate foul on Harrison 30 yards from goal.
75 min There’s a vague appeal for a penalty when Jones goes over in the Leeds area under challenge from Klich. It wasn’t a foul.
Updated
74 min If we make the (not unreasonable) assumption that Liverpool represents the ceiling regarding the quality of Premier League teams, this Leeds side should finish comfortably in mid-table, maybe even in Europa spots,” says Kishalay Bannerjee. “Of course, whether this tempo can be sustained throughout the season is to be seen.”
73 min Liverpool haven’t lost a home game in the league since April 2017. Can you imagine if Leeds ended that unbeaten run in their first game back.
71 min Ayling is okay to continue. Robertson’s cross is headed away to the edge of the area, where Salah belts a right-footed volley into orbit.
71 min The more you see Klich’s goal, the better Costa’s pass becomes. He waited for Klich’s run into the area and then slid a lovely ball that took three or four Liverpool defenders out of the game.
70 min A clash of heads between Ayling and Koch leeds to a break in play. Ayling went straight down, Koch is still on his feet. Ayling is sitting up now and will be tested for concussion.
69 min “Evening Rob, happy new season,” says Tim. As Pavement have already been mentioned, I am hoping it wouldn’t be poor form to request a little plug for Speakeasy Fanzine, a new project dedicated to 90s music of all shapes and sizes. It only costs £1 an issue, and is printed on actual paper that you can hold in your hand.”
67 min This is sheer delightful entertainment.
It was a terrific finish from Mateusz Klich. Leeds won the ball high up the field, with Klich moving it out to Costa on the right. He curled a clever pass back towards Klich, who knocked the ball up with his first touch and slammed a volley into the corner with his second.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-3 Leeds (Klich 66)
Leeds equalise for the third time!
Updated
66 min Jordan Henderson is replaced by Curtis Jones for Liverpool.
64 min Robert Speed has sent in the official laws regarding handball, in reference to Liverpool’s dodgy early penalty. This, I think, is the key line:
Except for the above offences, it is not an offence if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:
- directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot)
62 min A double change for Leeds: Tyler Roberts and the record signing Rodrigo replace Hernandez and Bamford.
Updated
61 min Dallas plays a one-two with Hernandez, surges into the area and drives a low cross that is pushed away at the near post by Alisson. Liverpool break thrillingly through Firmino, Salah and finally Mane, who shoots over from 20 yards.
60 min Salah plays a super through pass towards Mane, who is impressively dispossessed by Koch. He showed good speed and strength there.
59 min Fabinho replaces Naby Keita in Liverpool’s midfield.
Updated
Koch drove a long pass over the defence to Harrison, who lobbed the ball over the outrushing Alisson and hared after it. Alexander-Arnold beat him to it but then headed it into his own net. Happily for him, the flag then went up and replays confirmed Harrison was just offside.
Updated
An own goal from Trent Alexander-Arnold is disallowed for offside!
56 min Leeds have had 52 per cent of the possession in the match, which is slightly surprising. A more telling statistic, as Jamie Carragher points out on Sky, is that Liverpool have won possession in the final third seven times, Leeds just once.
54 min “I have many, many unpopular opinions (Grease 2 > Grease, don’t @ me), but I’m still happily on board with VAR,” says Matt Dony. “In most cases, the real problem is the wording of the laws, and the almost arbitrary ways that various bodies decide they should be applied. I didn’t moan when, for example, Firmino’s armpit was adjudged to be gaining some advantage over the Villa defence, and I didn’t take any extra delight in seeing Alexander-Arnold not being penalised against City. It’s not perfect, but hey, what is?”
Moaning.
53 min Alexander-Arnold’s deep corner is headed over from 12 yards by van Dijk.
51 min “Whilst I understand the primal joy Jamie Carragher takes in performing the Hansen-role of mercilessly ripping into defences, he might qualify his criticism every now and again by mentioning the fact that this is an entirely new centre-back pairing,” says Michael Jenkins. “Struijk’s young and has never played at CB for Leeds and Koch’s only had a couple of days’ training at the club. And they are going up against one of the best frontlines in history.”
50 min A loose pass from Mane goes straight to Bamford, who moves to within 25 yards of goal and drives a shot that hits van Dijk.
50 min “Is Simon McMahon (26 minutes) the Simon McMahon from Lancaster University 20 years ago?” asks Simon Sylvester. “He loaned me a load of Pavement CDs. If so, hello. Rejoicing at the last-minute switch of my fantasy football captain from Aubameyang to Salah. Lamenting dropping Robbo.”
49 min Firmino’s low cross finds its way through to Wijnaldum, whose fierce shot is very well saved to his left by Meslier.
47 min “The winner of the VAR Cup last season was Brighton,” says Marie Meyer. “Not really a ‘big club’.”
See, even the journalists are in on the conspiracy.
Updated
46 min Peep peep! Leeds begin the second half.
Half-time purchase opportunity
“Deep down, I know VAR isn’t rigged,” says Brad Wilson. “I am a sports writer myself and I hate when people email me saying “the ref hates us” because I know it doesn’t work that way. But it can seem, to the casual observer, that VAR saves the big clubs constantly. That may be because they have the skill to force more challenges that VAR must review, or better defenders who on second look didn’t actually commit that foul. But the impression sticks, I think, with people who (like me) don’t want VAR in the first place, and it becomes, ‘VAR is terrible (which it is) and biased (which it isn’t).’”
I’m sure there is some subconscious bias with VAR officials, as there has always been with on-field referees. It’s just this suggestion of a grand conspiracy I don’t understand.
“Evening Rob,” says Brian Withington. “This game is turning into an excellent warm up for tonight’s main course at the London Stadium. Can’t wait to see what two proper homespun managers serve up for our delight after this little ‘amuse bouche’.”
Half time: Liverpool 3-2 Leeds
Peep peep! There were stratospheric expectations ahead of this match, and the first half exceeded them. We had five goals, two of them crackers, and it could easily have been more. The defending was, a-hem, imperfect, but let’s not worry about that - it made for glorious entertainment.
45 min We’ve just seen a replay of that penalty appeal, and it was indeed a dive.
44 min Costa goes down in the area after a challenge from Salah, who waves his hands to suggest it was a dive. VAR decides it’s not a penalty.
41 min “Bielsa as manager and FOUR players sporting manbuns...” says James Boden. “Leeds are THE hipster football club.”
You should see the artisan Gatorade they have at half-time.
40 min Mane has two shots blocked, the first by Koch and the second by Ayling.
40 min Mane’s shot is kicked away by Meslier. Mane was flagged offside after the event but it was the wrong decision, so the goal would have stood.
39 min “Speed metal football, I love it,” says Mary Waltz. “Jose is having heart attacks as he watches.”
It’s a hockey score.
38 min A quiet spell in the game, believe it or not.
37 min “Anyone remember the 4-5 between these teams at Elland Road in ‘91?” asks Nick.
Weren’t Liverpool 4-0 up at half-time in that one? I vaguely remember a brilliant goal from John Barnes, though that applies to most weeks from 1987-91.
Updated
35 min “The cynic in me, and the bitter Evertonian as well (hard to tell them apart sometimes), thinks that had Leeds scored the way Liverpool did, with a Bamford shot ricocheting off Van Dijk’s thigh and arm and a penalty given, VAR would have overruled it in 0.00037 seconds,” says Brad Wilson. “But maybe that’s too cynical.”
I don’t understand why everyone thinks VAR is rigged. It’s not, it’s just crap.
Robertson’s free-kick was headed clear but only as far as Salah, lurking in space 15 yards out. He controlled the ball with his right foot and battered it into the roof of the net with his left. That was another cracking finish.
Updated
GOAL! Liverpool 3-2 Leeds (Salah 33)
Thirty-three minutes, five goals!
31 min “Early contender for game of the season?” says Simon McGrother. “Fantastic stuff.”
It’s still Crystal Palace 1-0 Southampton for me.
Dallas, on the halfway line, lofted a speculative ball forward towards Bamford on the edge of the area. Van Dijk got there first but flicked the ball lazily towards Robertson. It hit Bamford and broke kindly for him to clip the ball past Alisson and into the net. That was a dismal mistake from van Dijk.
Updated
GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Leeds (Bamford 30)
Leeds have equalised for a second time!
29 min After a mazy run from Salah, Keita’s shot is blocked by Struijk. It’s breathless stuff.
28 min: Great save by Meslier! Robertson’s cross was accidentally looped towards his own goal by the stretching Struijk, and Meslier backpedalled desperately before leaping to tip the ball over the bar.
Updated
26 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Maybe somebody should shoot VAR? (Though to be fair, I thought it had been having a good season so far...)”
25 min Henderson whistles a half-volley from 25 yards that is held by Meslier. It was beautifully struck but straight at the keeper.
24 min This game could conceivably finish 4-3 to Leeds or 7-1 to Liverpool.
22 min Leeds almost equalise again! Ayling flicks a lovely pass through to Bamford, who tries to go round Alisson but is pushed too far wide to get a shot in. If he had the chance again I think he’d have shot first time.
Updated
GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Leeds (van Dijk 20)
Liverpool are back in front! Robertson curls a corner to the near post, where van Dijk loses Koch with ease and thumps a heder through Meslier. That was far too easy.
Updated
18 min Harrison’s cross from the left just evades the leaping Costa in the middle. Leeds look very dangerous, particularly down their left.
Now Mane has a goal disallowed for offside! I think it was against Robertson in the build-up. Meslier came out of his area to beat Robertson to the ball but gave it straight to Mane, who clipped it into the net from 40 yards. Replays show Robertson was offside.
14 min Leeds are almost in again, but Hernandez doesn’t have the pace to surge away from Alexander-Arnold. This is terrific stuff.
Phillips sprayed a beautiful long pass out to Harrison on the left. He killed it beautifully on the stretch, then zipped past Alexander-Arnold and Gomez before rifling a low shot past Alisson from the edge of the area. That is a magnificent goal!
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Leeds (Harrison 12)
Jack Harrison has equalised with a cracking goal!
Updated
9 min: Costa has a goal disallowed for offside! That was much better from Leeds. Hernandez’s cross led to a bit of a scramble in the area, but Costa was just offside as he held off Gomez and beat Alisson.
Updated
8 min Why wasn’t that overturned - or at least looked at properly - by VAR? The 2020-21 season has been ruined already.
6 min Actually, I don’t think that should have been a penalty: replays show that it hit Koch’s thigh and then deflected onto his outstretched arm, which doesn’t necessarily count as handball under the revised laws. The VAR check was cursory at best. I hate football.
5 min I do feel sorry for Koch, who certainly wasn’t trying to stop Salah’s shot. But in the modern game, that’s always going to be a penalty.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Leeds (Salah 4 pen)
Salah blisters the penalty straight down the middle, and Liverpool are ahead!
Updated
Salah’s shot hit Koch, who has been penalised for handball. His arm was outstretched, and that’s all that matters these days.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
2 min An early chance for Liverpool! Keita slides a pass through the inside-right channel for Firmino, who for some reason decides to cut the ball back rather than shoot. It hits a defender and bounces to safety. I’m not sure why he didn’t just clip that over Meslier.
2 min “Of course everyone wants fans in the stands, but with Covid cases on the rise this is not possible,” says Mary Waltz. “Over on this side of the pond, our wishful thinking has led to funerals all over the states.”
There is still talk of having supporters at games in October. I wouldn’t rule anything out. On this side of the pond, as you may have noticed, we’re making it up as we go along.
1 min Peep peep! Liverpool, in red, kick off from right to left. Leeds are in white.
Jurgen Klopp warmly greets Marcelo Bielsa, who is perched on a bucket in the technical area. Let’s get it on!
“Somebody shot JR?” says Ian Copestake. “Sad. I always enjoyed his contributions to the MBM.”
That deserves the first honk of the new season. Ho-honk!
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been surprised by how many people have tipped Liverpool not to win the the league. While I understand the argument that it’s hard to maintain such a crazy standard for a third consecutive season, I’m not sure the usual rules apply to a Liverpool team that have abnormal levels of hunger and intensity. I think they’ll win it comfortably, maybe by 10 points or so.
Updated
In the second Premier League game of the day, Wilfried Zaha’s goal gave Crystal Palace a 1-0 victory over Southampton at Selhurst Park
Pre-match reading/viewing
Team news
Jordan Henderson is fit to start for Liverpool, who have left Fabinho on the bench. Leeds’ record signing Rodrigo is also among the subs, but the German international Robin Koch starts in defence.
Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Adrian, Matip, Fabinho, Milner, Jones, Minamino, Origi.
Leeds (4-1-4-1) Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Struijk, Dallas; Phillips; Costa, Hernandez, Klich, Harrison; Bamford.
Substitutes: Casilla, Casey, Alioski, Roberts, Shackleton, Poveda-Ocampo, Rodrigo.
Referee Michael Oliver.
Updated
Preamble
The fixture computer done good. It’s been a helluva long time since it threw up an opening-day match as mouthwatering as this: Liverpool v Leeds, Jurgen Klopp v Marcelo Bielsa, the irresistible force v the irresistible force. We don’t know how good Leeds will be this season - it’s a huge step up from the Championship - but we do know they will be all sorts of fun. After 16 years, the Premier League feels complete again: Leeds are back.
Kick off 5.30pm
Updated
