Daniel Farke's big week ends with Leeds United boosting hopes of survival in thrilling draw with Liverpool
After going into Leeds United's scary-looking week under pressure Daniel Farke has come out of one of the most testing periods of his managerial career with his position strengthened.
Eight goals scored and four points earned against three of the best sides in the Premier League have turned things round for the Whites who moved up a place to fifth from bottom with their thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the third of their huge games in eight days.
Once again Farke played a big part in the positive result as it was his decision to change system midway through the second half that led to Leeds coming from two down to earn their precious point.
And the three substitutes he put on after 65 minutes – Willy Gnonto, Brenden Aaronson and Ao Tanaka – each took it in turn to have a hand in a goal in the massive comeback, with Tanaka scoring the equaliser in the sixth minute of added time.
Farke was delighted with the response of his players to his changes and fighting qualities they showed after two quick goals early in the second half left them with a mountain to climb against the reigning Premier champions.
He said: "We got so much praise for our different formation but at 2-0 down we wanted to change the challenge for Liverpool.
“We wanted mobile wingers, sometimes wide, sometimes in the pocket and to press in a different way. The lads executed in a brilliant way, assist for Willy, assist for Brenden, Ao with an equaliser after I was a bit furious with him for opening our block (for Liverpool's goal).
“We needed to change something. It caught Liverpool a bit by surprise and we were able to create a few more set pieces and could use one to equalise.
“After this exhausting week, to change base formation and it works, it's amazing."
Farke added: "Tight game in the first half, they had a bit more possession, but we put pressure on them, similar to the first half against Chelsea.
"We didn't allow many chances, I don't remember Lucas Perri making a save.
“If you want to win points against the top sides in the world you need top energy against the ball, but also with the ball. In the second half you could realise we were running out of energy a bit in possession and had two mistakes sadly to assist their two goals.
“My boys have this attitude, never know when they're beaten and whatever is thrown at them they always try to find the answer.
“To come back from 2-0 down was outstanding. Perhaps a bit overmotivated, 2-2, stepped out of our block in the pressing without a trigger and allowed them to score a top class goal. We found another answer and equalised.
“It's just a point but the lads should be really proud and can take lots of confidence.”
In a game that swung one way then the other throughout it was Leeds who made the better start with three efforts on the first four minutes.
Noah Okafor – playing up front in the absence of the injured Lukas Nmecha – sent two shots wide from good positions and Gabriel Gudmundsson hit a volley over from just outside the box.
Liverpool recovered from their shaky start to get a grip on the game for a spell and were inches away from opening the scoring when Curtis Jones' curling shot cannoned back off the crossbar.
Hugo Ekitike saw a shot deflected over a minute later and Dominik Szoboszlai hit a free-kick off target.
The best chance of the half fell to Virgil van Dijk, but he headed over from eight yards out after getting free to meet a free-kick.
Leeds stayed in the game, however, as Pascal Struijk shot wide after turning in the area and Dominic Calvert-Lewin could not make anything of a free-kick into the box after appearing to get free.
The second half was just three minutes old when the deadlock was broken and it came from a rare error from home defender Joe Rodon as his wayward pass across the backline was pounced upon by a grateful Ekitike who finished well.
More defensive errors followed two minutes later with United failing to clear the ball and Conor Bradley's great cross was put in by Ekitike with a sliding finish from close range.
Leeds faced a huge task now and could have been three down but for a fine save from Lucas Perri to deny Cody Gakpo.
Farke turned to his bench and the result was almost instant as Gnonto ran at the Liverpool defence and was brought down near the goalline by Ibrahima Konate who had made an unnecessary lunge and made no contact with the ball.
Referee Anthony Taylor – unsurprisingly given his performance – did not point to the spot, but VAR official John Brooks told him to rethink his decision and a penalty was the result, with Calvert-Lewin putting it away for his third goal in a week.
Suddenly Elland Road was rocking and the noise level went up another notch soon after when another goal went in as Anton Stach came up with a great finish after a great run and pass by Aaronson.Liverpool's response was outstanding, however, with Perri having to make another world class save to keep out a van Dijk header.
The relief was temporary as the Reds did go back in front on 80 minutes when they carved through the home defence with a smart move finished by Szoboszlai.
Now the Whites had to chase the game again and they kept plugging away with Tanaka seeing a low shot well held by keeper Alisson and Aaronson shot easily saved after a good move involving Stach and Gnonto.
They forced a couple of corners in added time and from the second of them Tanaka was at the back post to come up with a goal that almost took the roof off the ground.
There were cheers of relief a minute later as Alexander Isak's header flashed just wide for Liverpool, but Leeds held on for their draw in the three remaining minutes and a remarkable week of football was over.
Who would have thought coming into the week that they would score three against Chelsea and Liverpool and two against Manchester City?
(Calvert-Lewin 70, pen, Stach 75, Tanaka 90+6)
Liverpool 3
(Ekitike 48, 50, Szoboszlai 80)
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Premier League
Attendance: 36,842
Leeds: Perri; Rodon, Bijol (Gnonto 65), Struijk; Bogle (Bornauw 90+3), Ampadu (Piroe 87), Gruev (Aaronson 65), Stach, Gudmundsson; Okafor (Tanaka 65), Calvert-Lewin.
Liverpool: Alisson; Bradley (Gomez 68), Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenbrech, Szoboszlai; Jones, Wirtz (MacAllister 68), Gakpo (Endo 83); Ekitike (Isak 83).
Referee: Anthony Taylor