“Liverpool’s collapse is real.” Gary Neville spoke after Arne Slot’s defending champions took 2-0 and 3-2 leads to draw 3-3 at Leeds on Saturday Night Football.
It’s another detrimental result for the Premier League title holders, who have won just four of their last 15 games in all competitions. They sit in 8th place, 10 points adrift of leaders Arsenal, having missed out on a chance to advance to 5th place.
“It’s despair for Liverpool,” Neville said after the final whistle at Elland Road. “It’s inconsistent. You can’t trust them. You’re always thinking something is going to go wrong and they’re making mistake after mistake.”
At the start of the second half, Liverpool brought Leeds back into the game after Hugo Ekitiche’s quick double. Ibrahima Konate gave Dominic Calvert-Lewin a penalty to make it 2-1, before Anton Stac equalized moments later. Dominik Szoboszlai put Liverpool back in front but Ao Tanaka scored another Leeds equalizer from a corner in added time.
“Liverpool’s collapse is real,” Neville said. “This was a comfortable game for them, 2-0.
“It could happen. You thought it would happen. Arne Slot can’t believe it.
“It’s an ongoing mystery. His team is falling apart. Liverpool… you can’t trust them.”
Neville’s tribute to Leeds: A week of hope!
Meanwhile, Leeds backed up their midweek win over Chelsea by picking up another valuable point in their relegation battle. They are now three points above the drop zone and have earned praise from Neville for their performances in back-to-back games, almost securing a result at Manchester City.
Neville said: “Man City away, Chelsea at home, Liverpool at home. It was a week where we were probably expected to secure a place in next season’s Championship. It was a week of hope.” “Four points. And they almost got a point at Manchester City. They were fantastic.”
“Fair to (Leeds manager Daniel Farke), when he changed teams I thought it was just a case of resting for the next game, but they used a 3-5-2 and played a bit more directly. He then switched his system to a 4-2-3-1, which has actually played through Liverpool at times.”
Slot: We only have ourselves to blame
Liverpool manager Arne Slott told Sky Sports:
“It’s not the first time we’ve lost a point. It’s not the first time we’ve conceded a goal in the last minute. It’s not the first time we’ve conceded a set piece. I think you all know the atmosphere in the locker room.”
“I don’t think we gave away any chances until it was 2-0. The penalty wasn’t a chance, but VAR intervention led to another penalty, so we created a chance.”
“So it might be 2-1 and then the first chance of the game could lead to 2-2. We showed the mentality to go up 3-2 and after that I think we were in control. “Of course there are always long balls, second balls, but you can’t be sure that doesn’t always happen.
“And nine minutes into extra time, a set piece comes in and a goal is scored. That’s part of our season. But we’re the ones to blame. We acknowledge these opportunities.”
Szoboszlai: We thought the game was over.
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai told Sky Sports:
“I don’t know what happened after 2-0, I think we thought the game was over.
“We said at the beginning of the game that this is the kind of game where you can never underestimate the opposition.
“We probably had the momentum after the penalty to make it 2-2. The team responded well because we came back, but conceding goals again from a set piece is not a good idea.
“We have to find solutions, we have to be responsive and everyone has to take responsibility. It’s not always the older people, it’s not always the people who have been here a long time, it’s everyone.
“Everyone needs to take the field and show that they are ready to fight for this badge.”
Liverpool’s next five games
Liverpool and Leeds meet again at Anfield on January 1. Sky Sports.
December 9: Inter Milan (A) – Champions League
December 13th: Brighton (H) – Premier League
December 20th: Tottenham (A) – Premier League, live sky sports
December 27: Wolf (H) – Premier League
January 1: Leeds (H) – Premier League, live sky sports
Leeds’ next five games
December 14: brentford (A) – Premier League, live sky sports
December 20th: Crystal Palace (H) – Premier League, live Sky Sports+
December 28: sunderland (A) – Premier League, live sky sports
January 1: Liverpool (A) – Premier League, live sky sports
January 4: man utd (H) – Premier League
