DBasia.news – The drama of seven goals occurred in the inaugural match of Premier League champions, Liverpool. Facing Leeds United, the Reds struggled to win 4-3 thanks to Mohamed Salah’s hattrick.
Liverpool appeared with a squad that is familiar with the trio of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane on the front lines. In midfield Jordan Henderson returned after recovering from injury.
In Leeds United, only Robert Koch, the latest player, was played by manager Marcelo Bielsa. Meanwhile, on the front lines Bielsa relied on Patrick Bamford, while their new striker Rodrigo was still on the bench.
When the game was three minutes in, Liverpool received a penalty following Robin Koch’s handball. Mohamed Salah, who was the executioner, carried out his duties perfectly. This is the fourth season in a row that Salah has scored in the first match.
Liverpool’s advantage lasted only eight minutes. After receiving a long, accurate pass from Kalvin Philips, Jack Harrison pulled off an action that beat Trent-Alexander Arnold and Joe Gomez before unleashing a shot that Allison could not control. The action ran for 12 minutes, the score is 1-1.
In the 16th minute, the referee canceled Liverpool’s goal after Andy Robertson was first offside before Sadio Mane fired a shot from the side. Liverpool’s second goal arrived three minutes later.
Liverpool took the lead again through Virgil van Dijk’s header that continued the bait from Robertson’s corner in the 19th minute.
The hosts almost added a goal on two occasions in the span of three minutes. The first chance came in the 25th minute through Jordan Henderson who threw his hard right into the arms of Illlan Meslier. After three minutes, Meslier brilliantly cleared the ball from Trent’s shot which changed direction.
Failing to maximize chances, Liverpool conceded in the 30th minute. Van Dijk’s fatal error, which uneffectively blocked the ball, was able to be exploited by Bamford. The score is back to a draw.
Conceding a goal through their own mistake has made Liverpool try to get up. The hosts needed only three minutes to get back ahead. This time the goal came from Mo Salah with a heavy kick from inside the penalty box. The score changed to 3-2 when the game was 33 minutes in.
After the two sides exchanged possession of the ball, the first half of the match at Anfiled ended 3-2 for hosts, Liverpool.
The second half of Liverpool began to press a lot and create opportunities. But the hosts’ efforts always hit the Leeds defense. In the 57th minute, Leeds broke into Liverpool’s goal. But the referee denied the goal as it was offside.
In the 66th minute, the situation returned to a draw. Leeds managed to equalize for the third time, this time a goal was born through Mateusz Klich’s strike to continue Helder Costa’s pass. Score 3-3.
Entering the 79th minute, it was Liverpool’s turn to have a goal disapproved by the referee. This time the referee canceled Van Dijk’s goal after the previous foul.
Less than ten minutes of normal time remaining, Liverpool intensified the pressure in pursuit of the winning goal. But the efforts of Firmino and his colleagues failed to get past the Leeds defense.
With three minutes remaining, Liverpool received another penalty following a foul by Rodrigo against Fabinho. Once again, Mo Salah successfully carried out his duties as executor and brought Liverpool to the fore again. Mo Salah also became the first Liverpool player in history to score a hattrick in the opening season.
Line-up of Players:
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold (Matip 89), Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson (Jones 66), Naby Keita (Fabinho 60); Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.
Leeds United (4-1-4-1): Illlan Meslier; Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk, Stuart Dallas; Phillips Calvin; Helder Costa, Pablo Hernandez (Roberts 62), Mateusz Klich (Shackleton 81), Jack Harrison; Patrick Bamford (Rodrigo 66).