Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Leeds as Hugo Ekitike good but two terrible

ELLAND ROAD, LEEDS // Hugo Ekitike scored twice in three minutes but Liverpool missed the chance to earn an important Premier League win that would have put the Reds back in the Champions League places and level on points with Chelsea.

Just like midweek against Sunderland, the first half was a stalemate. Joe Rodon's misplaced pass saw Ekitike open the scoring, however, and within four minutes of the second half starting, the Frenchman had netted again. Ibrahima Konate instigated a comeback for Leeds but then Dominik Szoboszlai finished coolly to put the Reds 3-2 in front, only for Ao Tanaka to make it 3-3.

Liverpool was fortunate to get the breakthrough after a balanced 45 minutes in which some players looked nervy. Arne Slot's men, though, found a way to throw away a win, performing in far from convincing fashion.

Winners

Up top, Hugo Ekitike looked bright but he needed a bit more support from those around him in the first half. It was the right call to start him over Alexander Isak and he justified that call with the goals that sent the Reds on their way.

Curtis Jones was pretty good too, though again, he can't do everything on his own. Liverpool needed more from its attacking unit in general. With or without Mohamed Salah, it looks fairly limited at the moment and that's clearly a major issue that Arne Slot must solve as soon as possible... somehow.

Losers

Conor Bradley picked up a booking for a completely needless tackle in the middle of the pitch when he dived in, and that will mean he misses the visit of Brighton next weekend. It was a poor decision and summed up the nervousness at the back for the Reds. Virgil van Dijk got away with things at times and Ibrahima Konate wasn't so lucky. The Liverpool defense was far from convincing.

Player ratings

Alisson Becker (6). His distribution was poor at times midweek and again here. Handled the ball well with his gloves in slippery conditions but didn't have loads to do.

Conor Bradley (6). Back in after injury, the Northern Ireland captain was called upon to get back in quickly a few times. Tried his best to get into forward areas but often got crowded out. Booked, which means he misses the Brighton game.

Ibrahima Konate (4). Long balls and set-pieces have seen him succumb to errors on several occasions this season and he looked nervy. In possession, limited. Gave away a penalty when it was completely unnecessary; he just can't get through a game without making an error and allowed Leeds back in when the game should have been done.

Virgil van Dijk (6). Lost out in a couple of aerial challenges early on and almost misjudged a headed backpass to Alisson. He, like Konate, wasn't in peak form.

Milos Kerkez (6). Selected ahead of Andy Robertson after performing well against West Ham a week ago, the Hungary left-back was heavily involved early on, surviving a handball scare and blasting a shot over the top. Defended well but his attacking influence quickly waned.

Ryan Gravenberch (6). He hasn't been at his best lately, but this was better. That trademark spin away from his man was spotted more frequently than has been the case recently, especially first half. Fine but not perfect.

Curtis Jones (7). In ahead of Alexis Mac Allister, the Scouser can always be relied on to look after the ball, and he did that well here. Hit the bar with a brilliant curled effort and looked bright.

Dominik Szoboszlai (7). On the right-hand side once again, he was coming into the middle a lot. That meant little width for Liverpool in attack but he did score by going down the middle. Got through lots of running too.

Florian Wirtz (5). In at number 10, the German was outmuscled a few times. He looked like a boy among giants on occasion, though he was trying his best to compete. Given next to no time on the ball.

Cody Gakpo (6). Taken off at half-time midweek because he wasn't getting the better of his man one-versus-one, that continued here. He got into a couple of promising positions but made the wrong choice or overhit the pass.

Hugo Ekitike (8). Rightly coming into the team ahead of Alexander Isak, he recovered from an early blow to the head and looked fairly lively. He needed more from those around him to help out before Joe Rodon got the assist. The match-winner.

Substitutes

Alexis Mac Allister (6). Decent enough when he came on and more than willing to put a foot in.

Joe Gomez (6). On for Bradley, he offered solidity but couldn't exactly help see the game out without drama. The errors were not from him, though.

Alexander Isak (6). The subject of some unsavory chants from the home crowd, he didn't get involved too much.

Wataru Endo (6). A solid option at the base of the midfield, he put his foot in a couple of times and was the right player for the situation that Liverpool found itself in.