Elland Road loves drama, and this one had plenty. Leeds United and reigning Premier League champions Liverpool played out a breathless 3-3 draw that swung one way, then the other, before Ao Tanaka crashed home a 90+6 minute equaliser that shook the stands. It was a match that showed the Reds’ firepower, Leeds’ heart, and a bundle of defensive questions that will follow Liverpool home.

A Premier League thriller with everything

This was high speed from the start and full of storylines by the end. Liverpool, who arrived as champions and still unbeaten, looked set to add another win after a ruthless burst just after the break. But Leeds refused to go away. They stayed brave, pressed late, and were rewarded in stoppage time with a goal that felt like a win.

The point fits both teams differently. Liverpool hold their place near the top, yet will worry about how they kept letting Leeds back in, especially from set-pieces. Leeds, coming off a big win the week before, earned proof that their resilience at home is real.

Hugo Ekitike’s brace flips the script

Right after half-time, Liverpool turned the dial. Hugo Ekitike, lively and sharp, found the net twice in quick time. His movement split the Leeds back line and his finishing was cold. Suddenly, the champions were two up and Elland Road went quiet.

For Liverpool, this is why Ekitike was brought in. He stretched the game, gave Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté a platform to hold a higher line, and punished the first Leeds lapses. It looked like the Reds would be able to manage the game from there.

“Ekitike looks ready for Anfield nights—now fix the set-pieces.”

Leeds hit back: a penalty and Stach’s punch

Leeds did not fold. They pressed higher and asked for contact in the box. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, ice-cool from the spot, pulled one back. The mood flipped. Liverpool’s back line got edgy, and the hosts sensed space.

Then came Anton Stach. Leeds kept the pressure on and found a second. Liverpool’s trouble on set-pieces and second balls showed again. The spacing between defenders was loose. Leeds pounced, and it was 2-2 in a flash.

That swing owed plenty to Leeds’ belief. It also came from Liverpool losing detail in their box. Clear first contact, clean lines, and better midfield cover were missing at key moments.

“How can a champion side lose their shape on every dead ball?”

Szoboszlai’s strike and Tanaka’s stoppage-time shock

Dominik Szoboszlai looked like the match-winner. He stepped up late, found the net, and for a moment it felt like Liverpool had solved the problem by sheer quality. The Reds were back in front and tried to close the door.

But Leeds would not stop. They won territory, forced errors, and sent bodies into the box. Deep into added time, the ball fell for Ao Tanaka. His low finish at 90+6 exploded Elland Road and sealed a point that felt deserved for sheer persistence.

It was the final punch of a game that refused to settle. For Tanaka, it was a signature moment. For Leeds, it was a banner for the season: stay in the fight, and something can break your way.

“Tanaka just wrote himself into Elland Road folklore.”

Set-pieces and spacing: Liverpool’s lingering flaw

The equaliser will dominate the highlights, but the story beneath it is familiar. Liverpool’s set-piece defending and positional spacing are not right. The gaps between centre-backs and full-backs opened too often. Second balls were not claimed with enough force. Against a Leeds side that thrives on pressure and chaos, those small lapses became big chances.

Arne Slot has tightened many parts of this team, yet this is now a pattern. Fixing it is a must if the champions want to stay clear at the top and manage tight away nights like this one.

Slot’s Salah call: a tactical choice

Much of the talk after full-time was about Mohamed Salah. He was named among the substitutes but went unused. Slot pointed to tactical reasons. Leeds were compact, strong at the back, and the manager felt the game state did not demand an extra forward to get over the line.

In truth, the result hinged less on attacking choices and more on control without the ball. Liverpool created enough to win; they did not defend well enough to make it count. The decision on Salah will spark debate, but the bigger issue is how Liverpool protect their box when the heat rises.

Line-ups and the key men

Liverpool’s starting XI had star power and industry: Alisson; Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté at the heart of defence; Milos Kerkez at full-back; a midfield blend featuring Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, and Ryan Gravenberch; and a front line with Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike. The bench included Salah among others, but the Egyptian was not called on.

• Leeds scorers: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (penalty), Anton Stach, Ao Tanaka (90+6)
• Liverpool scorers: Hugo Ekitike (2), Dominik Szoboszlai

Ekitike showed why Liverpool backed him, with speed and sharp finishing. Szoboszlai again delivered in a big moment. For Leeds, Tanaka’s late strike will be replayed all week, while Calvert-Lewin and Stach kept belief alive when the match seemed gone.

What this draw means

For Liverpool, the road point keeps their unbeaten run intact and their title defense on track. But the warning signs are bright. Set-pieces and small positional errors are turning comfortable leads into chaos. It is a fixable problem, but one they must fix fast.

For Leeds, this is a result that lifts the ceiling. Backed by Elland Road and fresh from a big win last time out, they matched the champions stride for stride. The late equaliser is more than a goal; it is belief set in stone.

Final word

This was why the Premier League sells out every weekend. Goals, momentum swings, young stars stepping up, and one last roar in stoppage time. Leeds got a point they earned. Liverpool left with a lesson they already knew: when you lose detail at set-pieces, even a two-goal cushion can slip away.