Dion Dublin reveals what he hated about the Ao Tanaka goal in Leeds United vs Liverpool
Ao Tanaka netted the equaliser as Leeds United secured a 3-3 draw with Liverpool on Saturday.
Leeds came back to share the points with Liverpool in yet another hugely positive result for Daniel Farke’s side.
Just days after Leeds secured a 3-1 win over Chelsea, the Whites made it four points from a possible six against the Premier League champions.
Wilfried Gnonto won a penalty against Liverpool to start the comeback, before Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and then Tanaka netted in LS11.
It was bedlam inside Elland Road as the equaliser bounced in, but the strike actually left Dion Dublin frustrated.
Dion Dublin annoyed by Liverpool defending vs Leeds United
Tanaka was excellent against Chelsea last time around and put in another positive shift up against Arne Slot’s men on Saturday.
The Whites were good value for both of their equalisers, with Stach getting Leeds back on level terms on 75 minutes before Dominik Szoboszlai made it 3-2.
The third goal of the night for Leeds came after the Japan international drifted into space at the back post and was left completely unmarked from a 96th-minute corner.
His finish was excellent and sparked wild celebrations inside Elland Road, while Dublin was left to question the defensive work of the away side.
Speaking via Match of the Day on 6 December, the former England striker fumed at Ryan Gravenberch for failing to clear before Tanaka netted the equaliser.
He said: “This one is the one that frustrates me. This is so easily avoided. Gravenberch at the far post, Tanaka is free, but at the next angle, you can see that Gravenberch can clear this.
“Hands behind his back, all he’s got to do is jump up and head the ball away. He just gets Calvert-Lewin in his eyeline, decides to block Calvert-Lewin and takes his eye off the ball, and Tanaka’s there to put it in at the far post.“
Leeds deserve more credit for Liverpool draw
There was no mention from the ex-Aston Villa man of excellent game awareness from the midfielder and his ability to find so much space in the box.
Tanaka then showed superb composure to get his knee over the ball and keep a bouncing shot low and into the corner.
The technique was far from simple, especially with the strike coming six minutes into added time.
Dublin wasn’t for piling praise on the Japanese midfielder and instead levelled frustrations at Gravenberch, but Leeds and Tanaka certainly deserve more credit.
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