20′ Assist Andrew Robertson
20′ Goal Virgil van Dijk
19′ Liverpool win a corner down the left flank that will be whipped into the box by Robertson.
19′ Harrison is the first player to score on his Premier League debut for Leeds United since Nick Barmby in August 2002 against Manchester City, and the first to do so in an away game since Alan Smith in November 1998 – which was also at Anfield against Liverpool.
18′ Harrison surges down the left flank and whips a dangerous cross into the middle that evades the head of Costa. The Portuguese should have made contact with an effort there.
16′ DISALLOWED GOAL! Mane clips a strike over Meslier into the net after the keeper commits himself to clear ahead of Robertson. The goal is disallowed as the Scot was offside in the build-up.
15′ Mane has space down the left flank and he tries to get the better of Ayling. However, the full-back does well to hold him at bay and wins a goal-kick for the visitors.
14′ Leeds break with menace through the middle once more. Klich looks for Hernandez, but the midfielder just lacks the pace and Gomez mops up the danger.
12′ Phillips sends a long ball down the left, but Harrison does the rest with a fine run and effort.
12′ GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! HARRISON EQUALISES !!!!!!! 1-1!!! The winger scores a sublime goal to get the Whites level in the contest. He latches on to a long ball from Phillips and knocks it past Alexander-Arnold with ease. Harrison has the pace on Gomez and shoots with power low into the bottom-left corner, away from Alisson and into the back of the net. A fine strike.
11′ Leeds move the ball slickly down the left flank. Harrison finds Hernandez in space and he looks for the run of Bamford, but he ball clips the heels of Van Dijk and allows the Dutchman to clear the danger.
9′ DISALLOWED GOAL! Costa holds his nerve from close range, slotting an effort past Alisson. However, the forward is offside as he latches on to Harrison’s throughball 12 yards from goal.
8′ Leeds have to compose themselves here. Conceding an early goal would have been their nightmare scenario and they now have to force the issue to get a positive result.
6′ Salah lines up another strike from inside the box from the right side of the area, but he sees his effort charged down by the body of Struijk.
5′ Salah has scored 50 goals in 63 home games in the Premier League – only Alan Shearer (47 appearances) reached 50 home goals in fewer appearances in the competition’s history.
Mohamed Salah
Penalty Goal
4′ GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! 1-0 LIVERPOOL!!! Salah goes for power and he hammers his left-footed strike into the roof of the net. Meslier has no chance and Liverpool have the perfect start to the game.
3′ PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Salah strikes at goal and the ball hits the outstretched arm of Koch to block the effort. The referee does not hesitate in pointing to the spot.
2′ Keita threads a pass through to Firmino in the right inside channel and the Brazilian has space and time in the box. However, he goes for the cutback instead of a shot and sees his offload cleared by the Whites.
1′ We’re underway at Anfield.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight games against Leeds in all competitions (W6 D2), since a 1-2 defeat in April 2001 in the Premier League.
Leeds are without skipper Liam Cooper for the contest, leaving 21-year-old Struijk to start alongside debutant Koch in the middle of the defence. The German is the only debutant that Bielsa fields from the off, leaving Rodrigo on the bench from the off. Bamford leads the attack supported by Costa and Harrison on the flanks. Hernandez, Klich and Phillips form the midfield at Anfield.
Liverpool name a familiar line-up for the contest, starting arguably their strongest team. Alisson starts between the sticks ahead of the usual back four of Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gomez and Robertson. Keita gets the nod to start with Henderson and Wijnaldum in the middle of the park. The potent front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino lead the line as ever for the hosts.
LEEDS UNITED SUBS: Ian Carlo Poveda-Ocampo, Ezgjan Alioski, Tyler Roberts, Kiko Casilla, Rodrigo Moreno, Jamie Shackleton, Oliver Casey.
LEEDS UNITED (4-1-4-1): Illlan Meslier; Luke Ayling, Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk, Stuart Dallas; Kalvin Phillips; Helder Costa, Pablo Hernandez, Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison; Patrick Bamford.
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Fabinho, James Milner, Adrian, Curtis Jones, Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi, Joel Matip.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.
Leeds return to the Premier League for the first time since 2004. It has been a long wait for the Whites, but their Championship win last season was deserved. Marcelo Bielsa’s men have made a number of strong signings during the summer, adding Illan Meslier, Robin Koch and Rodrigo Moreno among others. Rodrigo is the club’s record signing and the Spaniard will be desperate to make an impact from the off in the Premier League.
Liverpool return for the 2020/21 campaign as the reigning champions following their romp to the crown last term for the first time in 30 years. Jurgen Klopp’s men will have to adjust to being the hunted side in the division in their bid to retain the title. The Reds have only added Kostas Tsimikas in the transfer window thus far. Therefore their squad has a familiar feel to it ahead of the new campaign and Klopp will be eyeing the perfect start by beating the newly-promoted Leeds.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Leeds United at Anfield.
