Salah hits hattrick as Liverpool edge Leeds in 7-goal thriller
Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick, including two penalties, as Liverpool commenced their Premier League title defence with a hugely interesting 4-3 make an impression on promoted Leeds United by Anfield on Saturday.
Leeds, making their return to the most notable flight after a 16-year absence, fought rear from behind three times and played the brand of intense, attacking football that their Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa established throughout their promotion marketing campaign last season.
The champions will get worried with some slack defending but once again did what they have done so well previously two seasons -- finding ways to win towards the end.
A season you start with fans even now barred from the lands due to COVID-19 constraints needed a begin to spark some excitement among frustrated lovers which high-energy, incident-packed encounter certainly delivered.
Juergen Klopp's part grabbed a good fourth minute business lead after referee Michael Oliver harshly ruled that Leeds' debutant German defender Robin Koch had handled a good Salah shot which deflected off his thigh on to his outstretched arm.
Salah himself blasted residence the spot-kick and Leeds looked as if they may be set for an extremely long day.
But eight minutes after Jack Harrison, on loan from Manchester City, brought Leeds level with an excellent solo goal, selecting the ball up on the left-flank and cutting inside, skipping past Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez, before drilling in to the bottom corner.
Liverpool restored their lead found in the 20th minute which time Leeds had just themselves at fault, leaving the obvious risk of Virgil van Dijk unchallenged with the towering Dutchman heading residence an Andy Robertson part.
But Leeds showed their resolve again with Patrick Bamford slotting house after Van Dijk had uncharacteristically didn't handle a ball over the top, his casual try to control the ball finding the Leeds striker with keeper Alisson away of position.
Salah, sporting a new short hair-trim, blasted Liverpool back front, 12 minutes prior to the break, when he pounced on a great attempted header distinct from Pascal Struijk with a good first-period shot which gave Illan Meslier zero chance.
Leeds felt for a moment these were level again when, after Harrison's lob over a great advancing Alisson, Alexander-Arnold bizarrely headed into his own target however the linesman subsequently flagged for offside.
But now there was to become a third comeback -- Helder Costa's low ball in to the package found Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich whose deft feel earned him space for a minimal get past Alisson to create it 3-3.
Van Dijk had the ball found in the net, blasting in from close spectrum after a free of charge kick limited to it to be eliminated for a foul by alternative Curtis Jones on Koch.
But, with only two a few minutes remaining, Liverpool secured the factors with another Salah penalty after Rodrigo Moreno clumsily brought down Fabinho.
It had been cruel on Leeds however the Yorkshire club will need huge encouragement from their screen while Liverpool, now unbeaten in 60 league video games at Anfield, are ready to go again.
