Leeds United defender Luke Ayling has explained how a nutmeg on Sadio Mane took his confidence to another level.
Leeds travelled to Liverpool in the first game of the season, but were very unfortunate to come out as 4-3 losers.
Mohamed Salah’s hat-trick turned out to be the difference for the Premier League champions despite a very spirited performance from Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
In the first-half, Ayling got the better of Mane - right next to the touchline - as the Leeds full-back neatly played it through the Liverpool forward’s legs before collecting the ball on the other side.
The 29-year-old right-back was the recipient of a silky bit of skill from the Senegalese later on, though, who got his revenge with a nutmeg.
Ayling, who has started the season very well for the Whites, has explained how he knew he loved the challenge of the Premier League ever since his skill against one of the division’s best forwards.
Talking to Soccer AM, Ayling said: “It was nice. Obviously you’re a bit nervous to start the season. They came out flying the first few minutes, I was like, ‘Jesus, oh my gosh, it’s going to be a long day’.
“Then I chucked the megs in and thought, ‘This is a bit of me!’. I remember looking at Tyler Roberts in the stand and saying, ‘Did you see that?’.
“About five minutes later, I was down the line and he went straight through my legs. I thought, ‘What’s happened here?’ - he got me straight back.”
Since the 4-3 loss at Anfield, Leeds are unbeaten in the Premier League, winning twice and drawing once.
Victories over Fulham and Sheffield United kick-started the Whites’ first campaign back in the top-flight, before a hard-fought draw against Manchester City at Elland Road before the international break.
