1 day ago
4
Whenever Liverpool makes the trip to Leeds, supporters of a certain age will inevitably recall one particular moment.
Regrettably for the Reds, it wasn't one that went their way. Tony Yeboah produced one of the Premier League's most iconic goals when the Whites welcomed Liverpool in August 1995. On a Monday night under the Elland Road floodlights, the Ghana international netted the winner with a thunderous volley from distance.
Meeting Rod Wallace's header, the strike was sensational as Leeds star Yeboah adjusted his feet while tracking the ball's descent before unleashing an unstoppable, dipping effort that left David James helpless as it smashed in off the underside of the bar.
James himself has gone on record stating his disdain for that goal, initially even thinking he ought to have kept it out. "I hate that goal," he said to the Premier League. "At the time, I spent quite a few weeks afterwards moaning about the fact that I should have saved it.
"I got to see the coverage because it was the live game on Sky Sports. I think the commentator said about 30 seconds beforehand, 'All this game needs is a goal' - and then Tony Yeboah turns up and scores!
"I blame the commentators! But it was, obviously, a terrific strike, and it was in a rich period of form for him at the time as well."
For Yeboah, the moment remains particularly cherished. While he considers a strike that he netted the following month against Wimbledon to be technically superior, his effort against Liverpool stands as his favorite.
The Ghanaian was, after all, a lifelong Reds supporter, having arrived in England from Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt – initially on loan – the previous January.
He had featured for the entire match at Anfield towards the end of the 1994-95 campaign. But with Liverpool visiting Elland Road, under the floodlights and in front of the Sky Sports cameras, he was determined to shine against his childhood idols.
"Sometimes, when a ball leaves your foot, you know it's heading straight in," he said, as quoted by the Mirror. "Playing against John Barnes and Ian Rush, I thought I had to do something special, so for me, that particular goal was something special.
"The one against Wimbledon is better, in terms of technique. But if you consider the opponents, Liverpool were my idols, the game was live on television, the emotion and size of the crowd, the Liverpool goal is my favourite.
"There's a TV station in Ghana that always shows the goal before the sports programmes, and I know they show it regularly in England too.
"It's fantastic. The people still remember me in Leeds. I played there a long time ago now, but because of the fantastic goals, everyone remembers.
"I am very proud of that. I feel so proud to have played for Leeds United and to have scored a fantastic goal like that."
English (US) ·