London (AFP)

Thanks to a late but deserved equalizer, Leeds deprived Liverpool of a fourth consecutive victory in the Premier League (1-1) and especially of a return to the top 4, Monday for the 32nd day during an evening marked by anti Super League protests.

An epilogue that will have delighted Leeds and its fans, headwind against the semi-closed European Super League project carried by 12 European clubs, including Liverpool.

Prior to the game, the Peacocks had all worn "Deserve it!" T-shirts.

at the front in protest against the automatic qualification guaranteed to the 15 founding members in the new competition envisaged, and "football belongs to the fans" behind the back.

A plane carrying a banner with the inscription "#SayNoToSuperLeague" ("Say no to the Super League") even flew over the stadium.

With 53 points, Liverpool remains 6th, two lengths behind West Ham which occupies 4th rank synonymous with virtual qualification for the Champions League, and one point behind Chelsea which receives Brighton on Tuesday.

In the event of a draw, Chelsea will drop to 4th on goal difference, and if they win, they will even seize 3rd, to the detriment of Leicester, even if they still have to play on Thursday.

Liverpool had to react after their elimination from the Champions League by Real Madrid, in the middle of last week and this match will have nevertheless given them some reasons for satisfaction.

- Leeds never abdicates -

Faced with a Leeds without complex after giving him a hard time in the first leg (4-3), the outgoing champion confirmed his progress in the league.

Determined, sharp, Liverpool put the ingredients to win, but a less controlled end to the game cost him two precious points.

The goal was like this newfound desire to strike hard and fast.

On an innocuous touch in the midfield, the ball reached Diogo Jota who saw well by turning around the incisive call in the back of the defense of Trent Alexander-Arnold on his left flank.

The left side deflected the ball with the tip of his foot to avoid Ilan Meslier coming out to meet him and pass it on to Sadio Mané who only had to push the ball to the bottom (0-1 31st).

Since he was not selected for the last gathering of the England team by Gareth Southgate, "TAA" seems to have put his game back on track as he is at one goal and two assists on the last three days of the Premier League.

But Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds never abdicate and after a crossbar found by Patrick Bamford (75th), then a miss from Tyler Roberts who hit straight on Alisson Becker (77th), the Peacocks were rewarded.

Three minutes from time, on a corner, it was Diego Llorente who jumped the highest to score his first goal with Leeds with a header that frustrates Liverpool (1-1, 87th).

© 2021 AFP