Ao Tanaka equalised six minutes into second-half stoppage time as Liverpool were pegged back from 2-0 and then 3-2 up in a gripping 3-3 draw with Leeds United.
2025/2026 Premier League
3-3
Match Report
The Premier League champions looked to have won Saturday's game on two occasions, only to let two points slip through their grasp as their terrible title defence hit another low.
Curtis Jones' curling strike that rattled the crossbar was the highlight of a low-key first half, but Hugo Ekitike scored twice in the first five minutes of the second period to put Liverpool 2-0 up.
Ekitike intercepted Joe Rodon's errant pass to finish into the bottom-left corner in the 48th minute, then stayed onside to bundle home after Conor Bradley dispossessed Gabriel Gudmundsson and crossed from the right.
But Leeds received a 73rd-minute lifeline when Ibrahima Konate recklessly scythed Wilfried Gnonto down. A penalty was awarded following a VAR review, and former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted confidently.
The momentum was with Leeds at that point, and just two minutes later, Anton Stach cut inside from the left side of the area under little pressure before powering home.
Liverpool hit back in the 80th minute as Ryan Gravenberch released Dominik Szoboszlai, who tucked a neat finish across Lucas Perri, but that was not the last of the goalmouth action.
Deep into nine minutes of stoppage time, Stach's inswinging corner from the left squirmed all the way to Tanaka at the far post, and he rifled through a crowd of bodies to provoke wild celebrations from the home fans at Elland Road.
Data Debrief: Another late blow leaves Liverpool reeling
Tanaka's equaliser was the third result-altering goal Liverpool have conceded in the Premier League this season, having also conceded winners to Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
That is already the joint-most they have ever conceded in a full campaign in the competition, having also shipped three such goals in 2010-11 – when they finished sixth.
This game saw the momentum swing wildly in a white-hot atmosphere, with both teams grabbing quickfire doubles. There were just 130 seconds between Liverpool's first and second goals, and then only 165 seconds between Leeds' first and second goals.
Since the start of last season, only Bournemouth (16) and Leicester City (16) have conceded 2 or more goals in more different away games in the Premier League than Liverpool (15), who have done so in eight of their last 10 such matches.
The Reds edged the expected goals battle, with 1.73 xG from 16 shots compared to Leeds' 1.51 from 12 attempts, but that will be scant consolation to Slot as the pressure continues to mount on Merseyside.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
2' Noah Okafor drags his shot wide from just outside the box
6' A quick VAR review for a potential Leeds penalty, but not given
12' Ekitike goes down with an injury and the physios come on
16' CLOSE! Curtis Jones curls in a shot that comes back off the crossbar
21' Dominik Szoboszlai curls the free-kick over the bar
24' Van Dijk really gets his header to Konate wrong but Leeds can't take advantage
26' Szoboszlai swings in the free-kick and Van Dijk heads over the bar
32' Gakpo gets to the byeline but clips a cross in that far over everyone's heads
40' Gakpo cuts in past two tackles and hooks a shot just wide of the bottom corner
48' GOAL! Ekitiké breaks deadlock right after kick-off! Leeds United 0-1 Liverpool
48' Conor Bradley chops down Ethan Ampadu in the centre circle and gets booked
50' GOAL! Ekitike doubles the lead in just 3 minutes! Leeds United 0-2 Liverpool
65' Alisson makes a fantastic save to keep out Bogle's close-range effort
67' Ekitike finds Gakpo, who curls a shot only for Lucas Perri to tip it wide
73' Konate gifts a penalty and Calvert-Lewin scores! Leeds United 1-2 Liverpool
75' Game on! Stach cuts in and fires home to equalize! Leeds United 2-2 Liverpool
79' Van Dijk's header is flying towards the top corner but Perri saves it
80' GOAL! Szoboszlai slots the ball into bottom corner! Leeds United 2-3 Liverpool
92' Match Event for Leeds United vs Liverpool
96' GOAL! Leeds United 3-3 Liverpool (Ao Tanaka)
Line-ups
Leeds United XI: Calvert-Lewin, Lucas Perri, Joe Rodon, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Ampadu, Pascal Struijk, Jayden Bogle, Okafor, Jaka Bijol, Anton Stach, Ilia Gruev
Subs: Darlow, Byram, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Justin, Jack Harrison, Joël Piroe, Ao Tanaka, Brenden Aaronson, Wilfried Gnonto
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitiké, Conor Bradley, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz
Subs: Endo, Salah, Robertson, Joe Gomez, Isak, Chiesa, Mac Allister, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Rio Ngumoha