LEEDS United's brave EFL Cup run was finally ended in a 2-0 loss at Liverpool who had to withstand a barrage of pressure before bagging late goals through Divock Origi and Ben Woodburn.
Leeds more than matched their Premier Division title-chasing hosts and hit the post through Kemar Roofe but were finally undone in the 77th minute when Origi clipped home a fine cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold
The goal was harsh on Leeds and the Red men then doubled their lead just five minutes later when substitute Woodburn smashed home a fierce drive in front of the left hand post.
Leeds began brightly and squandered a fine chance to take the lead in the fourth minute when a raking pass from Stuart Dallas released Hadi Sacko whose low shot was saved by Simon Mignolet’s legs.
Leeds began brightly and squandered a fine chance to take the lead in the fourth minute when a raking pass from Stuart Dallas released Hadi Sacko whose low shot was saved by Simon Mignolet’s legs.
Kemar Roofe then tested Mignolet with a decent low drive from 25 yards some six minutes later but Liverpool then immediately created their first chance with Marco Silvestri producing a decent diving save to keep a volleyed effort from Georginio Wijnaldum out of the top right corner.
A 16th-minute effort from Ragnar Klavan then nearly hit the corner flag and Leeds continued to impress ,with a 25th-minute corner causing a scramble and finding Ronaldo Vieira whose low shot was blocked and clered.
But Leeds were then dealt a blow in the 27th minute when Eunan O’Kane picked up an injury and had to be substituted for Kalvin Phillips.
Phillips was immediately let off the hook six minutes later when his back pass to Kyle Bartley was intercepted by Emre Can whose poked attempt squirmed just wide of Silvestri’s post.
But Leeds continued to pose a threat and Kemar Roofe was wrongly flagged offside as Souleymane Doukara released the forward down the left wing.
A shot from Phillips then took a deflection to wrong-foot Mignolet but to the ‘keeper’s relief the ball trickled wide.
Divock Origi then showed blistering pace to burst away down the right flank but Leeds saw off the danger and headed into the break all square.
But Liam Cooper had seemingly injured himself during that first half display and the captain was substituted at the half-time interval for Luke Ayling who faced a new role for Leeds in partnering Bartley at centre back.
But Leeds adapted to the change swimmingly and were only denied the opening goal by the post eight minutes after the restart.