English Premier League giants Liverpool suffered a shock defeat against Leeds United in their last game at Anfield.
Leeds United took the lead in the third minute of the match through Spanish striker Rodrigo after a miscommunication between Alisson and Joe Gomez. However, Liverpool got back into the match when Mohamed Salah scored the equalizer in the fourteenth minute.
The first half ended with a score of 1-1. After the break, Liverpool put a lot of pressure on the Leeds defence. But Leeds custodian Illan Meslier produced a masterclass in stopping every attack. Leeds regained their lead in the 89th minute when Crysencio Summerville found the back of the net. The match ended in a painful 2-1 loss for Liverpool.
Before this match, Leeds suffered four consecutive defeats. they have not won in their last eight outings. This was a huge win for Leeds United who were struggling in the relegation zone. For Liverpool, meanwhile, this was the first home loss after twenty-nine games.
Liverpool manager frustrated with Fabinho
Throughout the match, Jurgen Klopp was frustrated with his team’s performance. He became clearly visible when Klopp had a fiery exchange with his Brazilian defensive midfielder Fabinho late in the first half.
Liverpool is currently having a very hot and cold season. On their given day, they are scoring 7-8 goals. But on another night, the Reds are having a tough time even against newcomers from the Championship side.
One of the main reasons for Liverpool’s massive underperformance is their seniority. Most of the big name players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Thiago Alacantara have been heavily criticized.
Fabinho, on the other hand, has gone under the radar a bit. The Brazilian international had a stellar season for Liverpool during his last term. His contribution in both defense and attack kept Liverpool in pursuit of the quadruple. Although they managed to win both domestic cups, Klopp’s team narrowly missed out on the EPL and the Champions League.
This time, Fabinho’s performance hasn’t been anywhere near last season. As a result, Liverpool’s intensity has dropped. They are currently being outmaneuvered or, in the words of Graeme Souness, “bullied” in the middle of the park.
Now, curiously, this is not the first time that Klopp looks at the Brazilian angrily. Earlier, Klopp had another one of those fiery conversations with Fabinho in their 3-3 draw against Brighton.
After this defeat, Liverpool will remain in ninth place. The Reds now have just sixteen points from twelve games and the top four seems like a distant dream for them.
The Reds will now face Napoli in their next game.
