Gary Neville delivered a scathing assessment of Liverpool's dramatic late collapse at Elland Road, branding their performance an "implosion" after they surrendered a commanding two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Leeds United.
From Command to Chaos at Elland Road
The match seemed destined for a routine Liverpool victory after a brace from Hugo Ekitike put the visitors 2-0 up with just 20 minutes remaining. However, the game spectacularly unravelled in a chaotic final quarter. The turning point arrived on the 73rd minute when Ibrahima Konate conceded a penalty, which Dominic Calvert-Lewin duly converted.
The momentum shifted irrevocably just two minutes later as Anton Stach fired home to bring Leeds level. Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai appeared to have snatched a dramatic winner with a strike after 80 minutes, but there was one final twist in the tale.
Neville's Damning Verdict on Sky Sports
With the clock showing 90+6 minutes, Ao Tanaka rose to head in an equaliser from a corner, sealing a stunning comeback and leaving Liverpool shell-shocked. Analysing the match for Sky Sports, a stunned Gary Neville did not hold back.
"Liverpool, you just can't trust them," Neville stated. "You thought it could happen. Arne Slot can't believe it. It's a mystery that continues. His team just implode." He highlighted the visible panic on the touchline, noting, "Arne Slot and the coaches, they were frantically shouting before that corner towards the Liverpool players."
Neville expanded on his criticism, emphasising the deep-rooted issues. "Liverpool's implosion, I said it before, is real. This is a game that was comfortable for them at 2-0. For Liverpool, despair, inconsistent, you can't trust them, you always think something is going to go wrong. They make mistake after mistake after mistake."
Consequences for Liverpool's Season
The costly draw had immediate ramifications for the Premier League table. Liverpool blew the chance to climb back into the top five and instead had to settle for eighth place at the final whistle, now a daunting 10 points adrift of league leaders Arsenal.
This result marks a severe setback in what was supposed to be a week of revival for Arne Slot's side. Following a 2-0 away win at West Ham that restored some optimism, the Reds could only manage a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield before this devastating collapse in Yorkshire. Fixtures against struggling West Ham and newcomers Sunderland and Leeds had appeared highly favourable, but Liverpool have contrived to take just five points from a possible nine.
The late capitulation at Elland Road raises serious questions about the team's mentality and defensive resilience as they fall further behind in the race for European qualification.
