Liverpool convincingly beat Leeds United 3-0 at Elland Road today, although the result was overshadowed by a serious injury sustained by young Reds midfielder Harvey Elliot.
The game started at a frenetic pace in front of a raucous Elland Road crowd and the first chance would fall to the home side. Alisson parrying away Rodrigo’s strike after the Spanish attacker found himself free in the box 14 yards from goal.
Liverpool‘s attackers looked sharp from the off and after 15 minutes Diogo Jota forced Leeds keeper Illan Meslier into a decent reaction stop following a fine chipped ball through by Mohamed Salah.
Jurgen Klopp’s side would take the lead on 20 minutes via the newest member of the Premier League’s illustrious 100 club, Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian King finishing off a fine team move from close range after a low cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ PREMIER LEAGUE GOALS.
MO SALAH 👑 pic.twitter.com/ZEbBdlGeHz
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 12, 2021
Liverpool really began to dominate after going ahead and Leeds had to hang on just to make it in at the break just a single goal in arrears.
However, just a few minutes into the second-half the Reds would make their dominance count, Fabinho bundling home from close range following a corner.
Sadly on 58 minutes disaster would strike for promising young Liverpool midfielder Elliot, the 18-year-old suffering a horrific leg injury after a challenge from Leeds defender Pascal Struijk. So serious was the injury that the TV broadcasters refused to show the replays and Struijk was shown a red card by referee Craig Pawson.
Liverpool would score a deserved third in injury time via Sadio Mane, the Senegalese attacker firing home a powerful low effort having previously missed a handful of chances throughout the game.
Speaking afterwards Reds boss Klopp was happy with the intensity his side showed but was generally more concerned with the well being of Elliot.
“Harvey Elliott is in hospital, a bad ankle injury for sure. It looked like it was dislocated, the medical department put it back. Massive pain, shock for him, for us and we don’t know more. We have to wait,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“I couldn’t care less (if it was a red card), it is not my business. It is a serious injury, definitely for an 18-year-old boy. The red card is not important. Two or three weeks we can play on, Harvey will not.
We’re all with you, Harvey ❤️
You’ll Never Walk Alone. pic.twitter.com/jSuhEa2zc0
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2021
“We played a really good game until Harvey had to go, the whole team was shocked and we lost rhythm. That is normal, human. We played as good as we can against Leeds. You have to be ready for brutal intensity. The crowd was there and an exciting football game with us as the deserved winner.
“I spoke to the boys afterwards, we have to speak a little bit about the football but Harvey overshadows it. I like intense football so I probably liked the game.
“Fabinho is an incredible player with the challenges he won, we did well in many departments. Sadio Mane played an exceptional game, the crowd wanted to make him annoyed, he stayed calm and scored the goal.”
