Salah's Hat-trick Lifts Liverpool Past Resistant Leeds United

Mohamed Salah's hat-trick lifted Liverpool from an opening day stumble as the defending Premier League champions edged Leeds 4-3 on Saturday.

AllNews reports the match to be a slugfest, with both teams scoring at will and Leeds 2 goals were canceled to leave the score at 4-3 at the final whistle.

The Premier League returned with a bang as Liverpool and Leeds, on their return to the top-flight after a 16-year absence, served up a feast of goals to open the 2020-21 campaign.

Jurgen Klopp's side cruised to a first league title in 30 years last season, but Liverpool looked more like the wide-open side of the German's early days in charge at Anfield as three times Leeds came from behind.

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Salah won a fourth-minute penalty when his shot hit Leeds debutant Robin Koch on his outstretched arm and he dispatched the spot-kick himself.

EVERY. ANGLE. ? @MoSalah starts the season in style ? pic.twitter.com/UPBHV2Mm3D

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 12, 2020

Leeds fashioned a stunning equalizer in the 12th minute when on-loan Manchester City midfielder Jack Harrison cut past Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez before drilling a superb low finish into the bottom corner.

Virgil van Dijk restored Liverpool's lead eight minutes later with a thumping header from Andy Robertson's corner.

Leeds equalized again in the 30th minute when Van Dijk made a hash of a flicked attempt to clear and Patrick Bamford pounced to guide his shot past Alisson Becker.

A remarkable game produced more drama as Salah struck again three minutes later with a thunderous drive into the roof of the net.

Leeds equalized for the third time when Mateusz Klich made a well-timed run to meet Helder Costa's pass with a composed finish in the 66th minute.

But Liverpool won it in the 88th minute when Leeds' record signing Rodrigo tripped Fabinho and Salah slotted in the penalty, leaving Klopp to sum up the feelings of both teams when he mouthed "wow" at the final whistle.

"Leeds are special. I said it before the game and in the game, everybody saw it obviously," said Klopp admiringly of Marcelo Bielsa's men.

"The way they play, the way they defend, the way they go into challenges was really, really good – and for 95 minutes, by the way!

"I’m completely fine with the game. Offensively, it was good; and defensively, we can improve and we will improve."