Leeds United 1 Liverpool 1: Diego Llorente strikes as Whites make their point

DIEGO Llorente's first goal for Leeds United gave Marcelo Bielsa's Whites a 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool in a game played behind the backdrop of football's widespread protests at the new European Super League.
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Sadio Mane fired Liverpool into a 31st-minute lead as part of a first half in which the Reds were on top but Leeds rallied strongly after the break.

Patrick Bamford was denied by the crossbar and Tyler Roberts blasted a fine chance straight at Alisson but United finally equalised in the 87th minute when Llorente headed home a Jack Harrison corner.

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Liverpool began brightly as Thiago and Roberto Firmino forced saves from Illan Meslier either side of Bamford side-footing wide when offside.

LANDMARK STRIKE: Leeds United's Diego Llorente celebrates his late equaliser. Photo by LEE SMITH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.LANDMARK STRIKE: Leeds United's Diego Llorente celebrates his late equaliser. Photo by LEE SMITH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
LANDMARK STRIKE: Leeds United's Diego Llorente celebrates his late equaliser. Photo by LEE SMITH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

But Leeds squandered a glorious chance in the 23rd minute when Fabinho's misplaced pass was intercepted by Kalvin Phillips who played in Bamford but the striker took a heavy touch and Alisson was able to thwart him.

It proved costly as just seven minutes later Liverpool took the lead when Diogo Jota's through ball picked out Trent Alexander-Arnold whose square ball left Mane with the task of passing the ball home from the edge of the box with Meslier already committed.

Liverpool then pressed for a second as Jota and James Milner fired off target and whilst Leeds looked to respond, a Roberts effort from just inside the area was easily saved by Allison.

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Jurgen Klopp's Reds then threatened twice soon after the restart as Meslier beat away a firm drive from Firmino for a corner from which Jota sent a free header over.

Mane then scrambled the ball wide from close range.

But Leeds responded with pressure that started from a fine Gjanni Alioski cross flying through the box.

Liverpool survived United's claims for a penalty after Alexander-Arnold accidentally handballed and fine footwork from Roberts then set up Harrison whose low drive was turned wide by Alisson's leg.

Bamford was then denied by the crossbar after a fine pass from Ayling and even better control from the striker whose lob rattled the frame of the goal.

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Substitute Ian Poveda then played in Roberts who smashed his effort from close range straight at Alisson.

Leeds were then lucky when Meslier passed the ball straight to Mo Salah whose shot was deflected behind for a corner which Meslier then scrambled over the bar after missing the initial delivery and scampering back.

Salah then raced through one on one but fired wide and the miss proved crucial as Leeds finally drew level in the 87th minute when Llorente headed home a Harrison corner.

Both sides then looked for a winner and Liverpool went closest when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was denied by Meslier from close range.

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Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Alioski (Klich 79), Phillips, Dallas, Harrison, Costa (Poveda 67), Roberts (Hernandez 86), Bamford. Subs not used: Casilla, Berardi, Davis, Koch, Shackleton, Gelhardt.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Kabak, Robertson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Thiago, Mane (Salah 71), Jota (Oxlade-Chamberlain 81), Firmino. Subs not used: Adrian, Keita, Tsimikas, Shaqiri, Davies, R. Williams, N. Williams.

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