"When?" - Leeds United fans on Liverpool draw, brave call, big Whites question and 'pivotal' player praise

Leeds United served up another Elland Road classic against Liverpool - but what did the club’s fans think? Here is what our YEP Jury had to say on Saturday evening’s dramatic 3-3 draw including praise for a brave call, “pivotal” player and big Whites question.

DAVID WATKINS

Several of the Jury predicted a draw… but no-one imagined it like this!

Liverpool bossed the first half, but neither side managed a shot on target.

Then, as we have done too often this season, we shot ourselves in the foot. First, a suicidal cross-field pass by Joe Rodon allowed Hugo Etitike to steer the ball unerringly past Lucas Perri.

Then, Gabriel Gudmundsson, also not for the first time this season, was found wanting as he tried to take the ball past Conor Bradley, failed, and allowed Bradley to cross. Etitike was quicker to react than Perri to poke the ball home for a two-goal lead.

Credit to Leeds, though, with a change of formation and fresh legs, we clawed our way back into the contest, with help from some equally dire defending by Liverpool.

Willy Gnonto was brought down, and Dom Calvert-Lewin scored the penalty. Then Anton Stach was allowed space to score the equaliser.

Defensive frailty cost us again as Dominik Szoboszlai was left free to score on 80 minutes, but a final hurrah from Leeds, roared on by the home crowd, saw Ao Tanaka steer the ball home from a late Leeds corner.

What a game! But, oh dear Leeds, when are you going to start defending properly?

Man of the match: Ao Tanaka.

“He was pivotal in changing the game”

ANDY RHODES

You’d have to say, this last week has been pretty good for Leeds United and head coach Daniel Farke.

Not many people would have expected four points from three of last season’s top four.

It could have been more, if not for that last-minute goal at the Etihad.

Unlike the Manchester City and Chelsea games, Farke found that the 3-5-2 formation wasn’t working against Liverpool on Saturday evening.

However, he was able to get something from the game by going back to his usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

That, plus his substitutions, turned the game on its head. Brenden Aaronson has had a lot of stick but he was pivotal in changing the game.

He was direct in midfield and offered more of an attacking threat than Leeds had shown before his introduction.

Ao Tanaka is also having a great time of it of late. His goal in midweek against Chelsea was excellent but this one was vital as well.

The games don’t come so thick and fast over Christmas as they do in the Championship but this could still be a decisive part of the season.

Man of the match: Anton Stach.

“He had the ‘bottle’ to change”

KEITH INGHAM

In a game that will live long in my memory, Leeds stormed back from 2-0 and 3-2 to claim a point with an Ao Tanaka equaliser in the fifth minute of injury time to claim four points out of games with Chelsea and Liverpool.

It was a pretty unimpressive first half with only a chance from Noah Okafor that he put wide and a couple of half chances for Liverpool that didn’t trouble Lucas Perri. It was scoreless at the break.

It all changed within five minutes of the second half, a wayward pass gave Hugo Ekitike an opportunity he didn’t miss and within a minute he made it 2-0 with less than impressive defending by Leeds.

A couple of substitutions brought Leeds to life. First Gnonto was brought down and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored from the spot, within two minutes they were level. Substitute Brenden Aaronson found Anton Stach and the midfielder beat Alisson with a fine finish.

It seemed that it could finish a draw but Dominik Szoboszlai scored with 10 minutes to go but one last twist in injury time saw a half-cleared corner fall to Tanaka and he scored to send fans wild on the terraces. What a game.

Daniel Farke has to take a lot of credit because he had the ‘bottle’ to change the formation which made a huge impact on the game.

Man of the match: Anton Stach.

“Carol singers were silenced”

MIKE GILL

This really was a game of two halves. The first period was an uninspiring stalemate with both sides cancelling each other out.

United’s front two did not look as threatening with Noah Okafor replacing the injured Lucas Nmecha but they held out well against a talented but disunited Liverpool side.

Tragedy struck just after half-time when Joe Rodon’s dangerously misplaced pass was seized upon by a grateful Hugo Ekitike to give Liverpool the lead.

Two minutes later the Frenchman struck again and it looked as though United were going to be severely punished.

Just after the hour, Daniel Farke bravely reverted to his more familiar formation, introducing Willy Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson and Ao Tanaka for Okafor, Jaka Bijol and Ilia Gruev.

These changes proved to be inspirational and soon the Whites were level after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty and Anton Stach’s impressive equaliser. Dominik Szoboszlai almost spoiled the party by doing a ‘Phil Foden’ but United weren’t lying down just yet.

In the dying seconds, Ao Tanaka whacked a far post shot home after another set piece.

Elland Road erupted and the Liverpudlian carol singers were silenced.

Man of the match: Anton Stach.

“Uncharacteristic”

NEIL GREWER

A remarkable game to end a remarkable week resulting in four points gained from a popular expectation of zero, and the pressure on the Leeds hierarchy has dissipated for the time being.

The goalless first half of this game saw Leeds compete against the (albeit below par) champions, but following the break an uncharacteristic, misplaced Joe Rodon pass presented Hugo Ekitike with a chance which he finished expertly and soon afterwards sloppy play on the left allowed Ekitike to double the lead.

But Daniel Farke responded early, changing the 3-5-2 system to 4-3-3 and introducing Willy Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson and Ao Tanaka.

And the changes worked with Gnonto winning a penalty (converted by Dominic Calvert-Lewin) and Anton Stach slotting in following good work from Aaronson.

Liverpool responded and Dominik Szoboszlai finished off a neat move but in injury time Tanaka stabbed in at the far post from a corner.

In conclusion – Leeds can play different styles and change mid-game, Farke is less predictable on line-ups and substitutions, goals are flowing (including from strikers), set pieces are working and signings are looking for the part. It just needs to continue.

Man of the match: Anton Stach, and the phenomenal crowd.