Leeds United 0-3 Liverpool: three heroes and three villains plus player ratings as Harvey Elliott suffers bad injury

The Reds delivered an impressive performance at Elland Road as Mo Salah, Fabinho and Sadio Mane got the goals.
By Will Rooney
Published 12th Sep 2021, 18:35 BST
Updated 12th Sep 2021, 18:38 BST
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates with Virgil van Dijk after scoring Liverpool’s first goal. Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty ImagesMohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates with Virgil van Dijk after scoring Liverpool’s first goal. Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates with Virgil van Dijk after scoring Liverpool’s first goal. Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Liverpool remain unbeaten in the 2021-22 Premier League season as they strutted to a 3-0 victory at Leeds.

Mo Salah opened the scoring in the first half before Fabinho and Sadio Mane were on target after the interval.

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However, the Reds’ win was marred by Harvey Elliott’s sickening injury he suffered in the 58th minute, which saw Leeds’ Pascal Struijk issued a straight red card.

The heroes

- Mo Salah: the Egyptian bagged his 100th Premier League goal with a close-range finish in the 20th minute. Salah is the 30th player in Premier League history to achieve the feat.

- Fabinho: Liverpool had been braced to be without the Brazilian for the game. Instead, his 50th-minute finish gave the Reds a deserved second when he swept home a loose ball from a corner. He also broke up play superbly throughout.

LEEDS, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Fabinho of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their side’s second goal during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road on September 12, 2021 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)LEEDS, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Fabinho of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their side’s second goal during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road on September 12, 2021 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LEEDS, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Fabinho of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their side’s second goal during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road on September 12, 2021 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

- Thiago Alcantara: came in for Jordan Henderson in the engine room and thrived. His composure on the ball and ability to slow the game down nullified Leeds’ high-octane approach.

The villains

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- Pascal Struijk: the Leeds defender’s 58th-minute tackle caused Elliott to suffer a bad injury. Although the challenge wasn’t malicious, Struijk was unsurprisingly sent off by referee Craig Pawson.

- Luke Ayling: the Whites favourite missed a huge chance to equalise towards the end of the first half. In acres of space at the back post, he couldn’t make his mind up whether to go with his head or foot and instead used his knee - with his effort flying over.

- Marco Bielsa: The Leeds boss got his tactics all wrong and his side were again humbled by a title-chasing side. The Yorkshire outfit are still without a win this season.

Player ratings

Leeds (4-2-3-1): Meslier 6; Ayling 4, Cooper 4, Llorente 5 (Struijk 32; 3), Firpo 4; Phillips 6, Dallas 5; Raphinha 5, Rodrigo 5 (Roberts 46; 5), Harrison 4; Bamford 7.

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Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson 6; Alexander-Arnold 8, Matip 7, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7; Fabinho 7, Thiago 8 (Keita 90+3), Elliott 7 (Henderson 63; 6); Mane 7, Salah 8, Jota 7 (Oxlade-Chamberlain; 82).

What’s next

Liverpool’s Champions League campaign kicks-off with a visit of AC Milan on Wednesday (20.00 BST).

The Reds then welcome Crystal Palace to Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday (15.00 BST).

Related topics:Premier LeagueLuke AylingElland RoadLeeds United

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