Leeds 0-3 Liverpool: Elliott injury overshadows Reds win

News Desk
Harvey Elliott

Liverpool’s convincing 3-0 win against Leeds United was overshadowed by a horrific injury to young midfielder Harvey Elliott.

Mohamed Salah turned home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s trademark low cross in a one-sided first half, Fabinho struck five minutes into the second and Sadio Mane added a deserved late third to extend Liverpool’s unbeaten start.

The home side played the final half an hour with 10 men after substitute Pascal Struijk was sent off for his challenge on Elliott, who received lengthy treatment before being stretchered off.


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Salah was at the heart of everything and Leeds summer signing Junior Firpo will remember his second league start for Leeds for all the wrong reasons as the Egyptian led him a merry dance.

Alexander-Arnold fizzed a low ball in across the face of goal and Mane’s shot was deflected wide.

Liverpool began to pick Leeds apart and skipper Liam Cooper was booked for grappling Mane to the floor before Diogo Jota’s volley was well saved by Illan Meslier.

There was an air of inevitability when Salah side-footed Liverpool into a 19th-minute lead to become the fifth-fastest player to reach the landmark of 100 Premier League goals in his 162nd appearance.

Mane then dragged his low shot wide, Meslier saved again to keep out Elliott’s thumping effort and with Leeds all at sea, Virgil van Dijk was wayward with a free header.

Struijk, a 32nd-minute replacement for the injured Diego Llorente, somehow denied Salah a second with a last-gasp challenge soon after the interval.

But Liverpool doubled their lead in the 50th minute. Alexander-Arnold’s corner was headed goalward by Van Dijk and, after Leeds failed to clear, Fabinho shot through Ayling’s legs and beyond Meslier.

Leeds substitute Tyler Roberts headed straight at Alisson and then fired wide as the home side rallied, but all hopes of a fightback were extinguished by Struijk’s straight red card in the 60th minute.

Struijk and Elliott collided in a full-blooded challenge and the Liverpool midfielder was left in agony. He was treated at length on the pitch before being stretchered off.

Leeds’ new signing Daniel James replaced Harrison soon after for his club debut, but made little impact as Liverpool kept their foot on the throttle.

Another last-ditch tackle from Ayling denied Salah after Mane broke clear and the latter pulled another effort wide with the goal beckoning.

Bamford lifted the home fans with a brilliant 50-yard effort that had Alisson scrambling to push over.

But Leeds conceded a third when Mane turned on to Fabinho’s ball inside and drove home a low finish in the closing stages.