Leeds United 0-3 Liverpool
The Premier League headlines will be about what appears to be a serious injury to a talented young player.
There is no doubt that football fans everywhere wish Harvey Elliott well after he was forced to leave the pitch at Elland Road half an hour before the end of this contest.
Amidst the concern for the midfielder, focus should also be on how this contest outlined why Liverpool did not need to go big in the transfer market this summer.
Jurgen Klopp knows he already has an in-depth squad at his disposal and this victory, which takes them joint top of the early table, was a further demonstration.
It also underlined why Mohamed Salah can rightly be lauded as one of the game’s true world class talents.
Highlights of the game
Before kick-off, home boss Marcelo Bielsa announced one change from the side that drew 1-1 at Burnley before the international break.
Left-back Junior Firpo returned to the starting XI, replacing centre-back Pascal Struijk, who was to have a torrid afternoon, as Stuart Dallas moved back into centre midfield.
New £25 million signing Dan James was on the bench, along with Mateusz Klich who, like Firpo, had missed the Burnley game following a positive Covid test.
Raphinha started after FIFA lifted the ban initially imposed on Brazilian players – a move which benefited Liverpool even more as goalkeeper Allison and Fabinho started.
The third member of the Merseysiders’ Brazilian trio, Roberto Firmino, was injured and replaced by Diogo Jota, while Thiago got the nod over Jordan Henderson in central midfield.
Once play started Premier League highlights duly followed and, following a promising start, the hosts were left to rue a missed opportunity.
Raphinha showed superb control and found the unmarked Rodrigo on the edge of the box but his shot was straight at Alisson.
What followed showed just why Liverpool were not only favourites for this encounter with the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds but also one of the title favourites.
After Jota poked a volley towards goal which Illan Meslier had to be alert to collect, Salah opened the scoring 20 minutes in, netting his 100th Premier League goal in just over four years by slotting in from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s precise pass.
Sadio Mane scooped a shot over when he should have done better and Elliott also went close as the visitors took full control.
In fact, but for a goal-line clearance by Patrick Bamford, Virgil van Dijk would have made it two.
Mane went close again after good work by Salah before Leeds suffered a further blow as Diego Llorente succumbed to injury and was replaced by Struijk.
Five minutes after the restart and Liverpool added the second their play merited as van Dijk headed on and Fabinho, at the second attempt, turned the ball home from close range.
It was one-way traffic with the excellent Salah at the heart of so much of Liverpool’s best moments.
The only downside of their afternoon came on the hour when Elliott came off worse in a challenge involving Struijk.
It was a complete accident but you could not help but feel for the teenager who left the pitch on a stretcher while concerned team-mates looked on.
VAR also intervened and Struijk, who clearly had no intention to hurt his opponent, was shown red card.
Leeds briefly rallied with a Bamford shot smothered by Alisson before the same player saw an effort tipped over the crossbar.
Liverpool regained composure though and put the 10-men to the sword again in stoppage time when Mane got the goal he had been striving for, stroking the ball into the bottom corner after being played in by the unselfish Thiago.
Key statistics
Salah is the 30th player to have scored 100 Premier League goals, with only four players reaching the milestone in fewer appearances than the Egyptian having played 161 games, behind Alan Shearer (124), Harry Kane (141), Sergio Aguero (147) and Thierry Henry (160).
He is just the second African to reach the milestone after Didier Drogba.
Liverpool are the first team to record 50 top-flight victories over Leeds.
They are unbeaten in their last 92 Premier League matches when leading at half-time (won 83, drawn nine) dating back to December 2016 against Bournemouth.
Leeds’ last victory over Liverpool in all competitions came in the league more than 20 years ago.
The Whites haven’t kept a clean sheet against Liverpool in 23 league meetings since a goalless draw in April 1999.
This is the first time since 1958-59 that Leeds have failed to win any of their first four top-flight matches of the season.
Liverpool’s 14-match unbeaten league run is currently the longest in the division (won 11, drawn three).
They have won eight of their past nine away league games, including their last five in a row.
What’s next?
Leeds now have a short break until travelling to Newcastle on Friday night in the top flight, followed four days later by a trip to Fulham in the third round of the League Cup.
Liverpool, meanwhile, host Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday and then play Crystal Palace at home in the league a week today. A quick turnaround follows with a trip to Norwich City in the League Cup.
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