Leeds United came from behind twice in a pulsating 3-3 draw with Liverpool at Elland Road, moving three points from 17th while denying the Reds fifth place.
A goalless first half was followed by a two-minute Hugo Ekitike double, only to be cancelled out in stunning fashion by a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty and Anton Stach strike.
Dominic Szoboszlai coolly slotted home late on only for Ao Tanaka to deny the champions first back-to-back victories since September deep into stoppage time.
As it happened
Leeds gave Liverpool their first scare inside two minutes when Noah Okafor, replacing the injured Lukas Nmecha, lashed a low shot just wide of Alisson’s right post.
At the other end, Milos Kerkez whipped in a dangerous cross from the left towards Ekitike, but Lucas Perri punched it clear, slightly catching the Frenchman.
Ensuing penalty appeals were at a minimum and no check was forthcoming.
After a quarter of an hour, Curtis Jones thought he had curled Liverpool in front with an audacious effort just left of the D, but instead left the rain-soaked crossbar shaking.
Both sides had but a single win in five leading up to the encounter – the Reds edging Leeds’ three-point haul by just one – and the contest began as closely as expected.
Yet a second chance went begging for Liverpool, as Virgil van Dijk headed over a free kick from the right, after Gabriel Gudmundsson clattered Conor Bradley.
Arne Slot’s men soon grew frustrated as Cody Gakpo’s strike was deflected wide after latching onto a ball over the top from Szoboszlai, Leeds recovering their shape well.
The final minutes of the first half were mired with fouls, bringing it to a stop-start end.
But Liverpool exploded into life three minutes after the restart when Ekitike leaped onto a sloppy pass across the back by Joe Rodon, slotting the ball the bottom left.
The ever-reliable Rodon was starting his 101st consecutive match for Leeds, the first player to achieve such a run in the side for over 40 years, but won’t like to relieve that moment.
He poked home his second in as many minutes by converting a cross from Bradley, moments after calling for a penalty for an alleged push by centre back Jaka Bijol.
But the tide turned after Calvert-Lewin converted a spot kick following a careless sliding challenge from Ibrahima Konaté on substitute Willy Gnonto and the subsequent VAR check.
Stach then powered in the equalizer to complete a stunning recovery, spinning to face goal after a neat pass into the box from Brenden Aaronson on the left wing.
But Szoboszlai restored the lead to stun Elland Road, caressing the ball into the net with help from Alexis Mac Allister cleverly dummying Ryan Gravenberch’s through ball.
Leeds, however, kept fighting, and after the away side failed to clear a corner, Tanaka was standing on hand at the back post to smash home a deserved second equalizer.
It was the 10th goal Liverpool had conceded through set pieces – other than penalties – this season, more than the entirety of last season and better only than Nottingham Forest in the current campaign.
Elland Road was left bouncing at full time, having seen four precious points secured against Chelsea and Liverpool in their bid for survival in the Premier League.
The line-ups
LEE: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Bijol, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Gruev, Ampadu, Stach, Calvert-Lewin, Okafor
LIV: Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Jones, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Ekitike