Llorente header 'earns it' for Leeds in draw with Liverpool
An 87th-minute header from defender Diego Llorente gave Leeds United a 1-1 home draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday following the home side staged a protest against the breakaway Super League prior to the kickoff.
Leeds players arrived because of their warm-up wearing shirts emblazoned with the slogan "Earn It" beneath the Champions League logo -- a reference to the actual fact that the proposed 20-club Super League could have 15 permanent members without relegation.
A plane flew overhead trailing a banner proclaiming "say no to superleague" as the Liverpool team coach was greeted with fans venting their anger.
The house side's striker Patrick Bamford joined a chorus of critics who condemned the drive by 12 of Europe's top clubs, including Liverpool, to create the breakaway competition rivalling UEFA's Champions League.
"We've just seen what everyone has seen," Bamford told Sky Sports.
"It is amazing the items they are discussing. I can't comprehend. It really is amazing the uproar and it is a shame it isn't like this with other activities, like racism.
"We are like fans. We can not believe it and do not know what will probably happen. I haven't seen one fan who's happy, and football is in the end about the fans. Without the fans football is nothing."
Liverpool midfielder James Milner added: "I can only say my view, I don't like it and hopefully it generally does not happen. I could imagine what has been said about it and I probably trust a whole lot of it."
The result left Liverpool sixth on 53 points from 32 games, one behind fifth-placed Chelsea who've a game in hand and two adrift of West Ham United in fourth. Leeds stayed 10th on 46 points.
Sadio Mane fired Liverpool ahead in the 31st minute when he steered the ball into a clear net from 15 metres after Trent Alexander-Arnold beat Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier to an extended Diogo Jota pass and squared it to the Senegalese forward.
Roberto Firmino came near adding a second soon after the break but Leeds then pegged back the visitors and missed several chances before Llorente rose above his markers to head home a Jack Harrison corner.
Substitute Mohamed Salah had scuffed a close-range shot wide for Liverpool moments before Llorente scored his first goal for Leeds and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain spurned a gilt-edged chance to snatch a stoppage-time winner for the visitors.
