Aidy White believes Leeds United had one of their own Trent Alexander-Arnold moments for Liverpool against Barcelona in the win over Norwich City last night.
Liverpool scored one of the most famous corner-kick routines of all time back in 2019 when Alexander-Arnold caught Barcelona napping to setup Divock Origi.
That goal completed one of the most iconic Champions League comebacks of all time as Liverpool came from three down in the first leg to win 4-0 and progress to the final.
Though Leeds were still level after the first leg unlike Liverpool, they did go onto win by the same scoreline in the return fixture as they demolished Norwich from start to finish.
Inside a raucous Elland Road, Ilia Gruev got the scoreline going inside even minutes, before Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter sent Leeds into a 3-0 half-time lead. Crysencio Summerville rounded off the scoring.
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Aidy White says Ilia Gruev reminded him of Alexander-Arnold
Though it was a special night from start to finish, there were certainly some big moments that had to go Leeds’ way to make it so comfortable.
Farke labelled Illan Meslier’s save to deny Josh Sargent just after Leeds had made it 2-0 as ‘world class’, and had that not been made, who knows how nervy it could have been.
It was also paramount that Leeds got an early goal to build on the fast start and atmosphere that had been built, with Gruev providing a moment of genius.
He completely caught out Angus Gunn at his near post when everyone was expecting a cross. Speaking on BBC Radio Leeds post-match, White says it reminded him of Alexander-Arnold.
He said: “100 per cent. I don’t think anybody, well I certainly didn’t, I was very shocked he went for it and thought he’d just sling it in the box. It was almost like that Liverpool corner that caught Barcelona off guard.
“It just caught everyone off guard and the confidence and bravery to say, ‘I’m the man, I’m going to do something different, doesn’t matter if it goes wrong, I’m going to do it.’ It set the tone.”
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Gruev shares what he was thinking before Leeds free-kick
In what was his first goal for Leeds since a £5m arrival from Werder Bremen, Gruev actually became the first Leeds midfielder to score in the Championship this season. What a time to do it.
Given that Summerville’s run took away one member of a two-man wall, it looked like a routine that was worked on in training. Gruev revealed after the match it wasn’t.
He said: “It was early in the game and I knew that the goalkeeper sometimes speculates [on a cross] so I thought let’s try and have a shot. It went in and was amazing, my first goal for Leeds.
“It’s nice to score in such an important game, the atmosphere was going off and we are really looking forward to go to Wembley for the last match. I asked our assistant coach if it was an out swinger or an in swinger, but then I saw the ‘keeper and I tried.”