Liverpool player ratings vs Leeds United: 8/10 ‘runs the show’ but 4/10 commits latest error in 3-3 draw

Liverpool travelled to Elland Road with tension already in the air and with pressure sitting heavily on the shoulders of Arne Slot, a coach who knew that every ninety minutes felt like a judgement day. Liverpool came to face Leeds United with the expectation that this match would help reduce the noise around their season, but instead it became one of the most frustrating and painful nights of their campaign, a night where Liverpool showed their attacking power but exposed their defensive weakness again and again, allowing Leeds to fight back two times and take a 3-3 draw that felt like a defeat for the Reds. The game was fast, emotional, dramatic, and full of errors, especially from Liverpool, and as the match ended, you could feel the disappointment in the faces of the Liverpool fans, the players, and even in the quiet expression of the manager who kept staring into the distance like someone thinking deeply about what was going wrong inside his team. This was supposed to be a day for Liverpool to rise, but instead it became another day of questions and doubts.

The match started with Leeds United coming out with energy, confidence, and the kind of determination that makes home teams dangerous. Inside the opening two minutes, Noah Okafor received the ball and fired a shot that flew just wide, giving Liverpool an early warning that Elland Road would not be silent today. The energy in the stadium lifted, and minutes later Okafor tried again but this time Milos Kerkez blocked the effort. Leeds were looking fearless, attacking with belief, and Liverpool took a little time to settle down and find rhythm. Slowly the visitors started pushing their way into the match, and after sixteen minutes Curtis Jones curled a beautiful shot from outside the box that beat the goalkeeper but crashed against the crossbar. Liverpool almost celebrated, and Lucas Perri for Leeds stood still, helpless, watching the ball bounce away. Eleven minutes later, Liverpool came very close again when Virgil van Dijk found space from a free-kick and rose high for a header but somehow sent it wide when he should have scored. Liverpool then counter-attacked quickly on the 40th minute and Cody Gakpo found himself with a shooting chance, but the Leeds defender deflected the ball out for a corner. Liverpool were growing stronger, but goals would not come in the first half.

But the second half changed everything. It was like someone pressed a new switch on the pitch because Liverpool suddenly came alive with intensity and danger, and within less than three minutes the long wait for a goal ended. Leeds defender Joe Rodon made a terrible mistake, a lazy loose pass that gave the ball straight to Hugo Ekitike. The French striker, who had been waiting patiently for chances, did not hesitate. He looked up, composed himself, and finished past Lucas Perri with confidence. Liverpool players rushed to celebrate because they felt this could be the beginning of a new chapter in the match. But they didn’t stop there. Two minutes later, Liverpool punished Leeds again. Conor Bradley won the ball high up the pitch, refused to give up after pressure, and sent a cross into the box. Ekitike ran towards the ball and touched it home for his second goal. Just like that, Liverpool were 2-0 up inside five minutes of the second half, and the away fans exploded with excitement, believing the match was now fully under their control.

Ekitike could even have made it 3-0 shortly after. Liverpool attacked again, the ball came to him, and he sent Cody Gakpo through, but the Dutch forward was denied by Perri. It felt like Liverpool were about to kill the game early, but football is full of surprises, and Liverpool were about to create problems for themselves in the most painful way. With twenty minutes left, Ibrahima Konate did something he will regret for a long time. Leeds winger Wilfried Gnonto had the ball in the Liverpool box, but he was not in a dangerous position. Konate decided to slide in anyway, a challenge that looked unnecessary and careless. The referee allowed play to continue but VAR called him to take another look, and soon the penalty was given. Dominic Calvert-Lewin stepped forward, calm and confident, and sent Alisson Becker the wrong way. Suddenly Leeds had hope, Elland Road became loud again, and Liverpool looked shaken.

The energy in the stadium changed completely. Leeds players were running with more power, the fans were pushing them, and Liverpool looked confused. Only two minutes later, Leeds equalised. Anton Stach found space inside the Liverpool box, too much space, and sent the ball into the net with confidence. The stadium exploded into noise as Liverpool’s defence stood still, leaving Slot shaking his head on the touchline. The pressure on the manager increased immediately. Liverpool had thrown away a 2-0 lead and looked like a team with many questions and no answers.

But Liverpool did not give up. They pushed again and Van Dijk almost scored with a powerful header that Lucas Perri saved brilliantly. Then, in the 80th minute, Liverpool found new life. Gravenberch passed the ball forward, Alexis Mac Allister cleverly let the ball run through without touching it, and it reached Dominik Szoboszlai. The midfielder controlled the moment with calmness, waited for the right second, and finished neatly. Liverpool were ahead again, 3-2, and the away fans celebrated with hope that maybe this time the lead would stand.

But this match was not finished. When the fourth official signalled nine minutes of stoppage time, Elland Road rose again. Leeds players, tired but hungry, kept pushing for one more chance, and Liverpool fell back, trying to defend the lead. Then came the moment Liverpool fans feared. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Leeds won a corner. The cross came into the box, nobody cleared it properly, the ball bounced around dangerously, and Ao Tanaka arrived at the back post. He dug his shot into the ground and watched it bounce over Alisson and into the net. 3-3. Leeds equalised again. Liverpool players collapsed in frustration. Elland Road celebrated like they had won. And Arne Slot stood silent, knowing the pressure around him was now heavier than ever.

This match became another painful example of Liverpool’s problems. They have now dropped points eight times in just fifteen league games, a huge concern for a team that started the season with ambition. The same two issues keep hurting them: individual errors and weak defending on set-pieces. Konate’s mistake, Van Dijk’s missed header, the inability to clear the corner in stoppage time, all these things made Liverpool look vulnerable. The team creates goals but also gives goals away too easily, and that is why frustration keeps growing among fans who want to see stronger control and consistency.

The player ratings reflected this mix of good moments and painful mistakes. Alisson Becker had almost nothing to do for most of the game. He collected one cross in the first half but could not stop any of the three Leeds goals. Conor Bradley worked hard, won tackles, created the assist for the second goal, but he also got a yellow card that means he will miss the next game. Ibrahima Konate was solid in the first half, but his error changed the entire match. Virgil van Dijk had moments where he looked strong, but he also made risky passes and missed big chances. Curtis Jones hit the crossbar. Gravenberch moved the ball well. Szoboszlai scored an important goal. Ekitike scored twice but the team still could not win. This mix of brilliance and carelessness is becoming a pattern that Liverpool must fix soon.

At the end of the match, Liverpool players looked tired, disappointed, and frustrated. They came so close to victory twice, but they let it slip away again and again. Leeds celebrated because their spirit and determination earned them a big result, but for Liverpool it was another night of regret. Arne Slot walked off the pitch quietly, knowing the questions will not stop, and knowing he must find solutions fast if he wants to avoid bigger trouble. Liverpool’s season is now filled with unpredictable results, dramatic matches, and difficult moments, and this draw at Elland Road will be remembered as one of the matches that showed their strengths and weaknesses side by side in the most painful way.