Lee Chapman salvaged Leeds' long-running home record with a late equaliser against Liverpool.
But after heading home in the 86th minute, the towering striker was denied a dramatic winner for the champions moments later when his thumping shot was controversially disallowed for pushing. For the second time in less than a month these two sides provided spectacular entertainment. Leeds had shaded a seven-goal Wembley thriller in the Charity Shield curtain raiser that set the tone for the new Premier League.
At Elland Road they looked on their way to a more comfortable win after Gary McAllister cracked in a superb opening goal after only seven minutes and Eric Cantona celebrated with a sizzling first-half display.
But Liverpool, the last side to win a league game here in April last year, were hauled back into contention by the delicate touch of Ronnie Whelan and the defiance of goalkeeper David James. When they took the lead to a controversial 72nd minute penalty from Jan Molby, it looked like Liverpool could sneak it.
But then Chapman intervened as manager Howard Wilkinson's double substitution, sending on Steve Hodge and Gordon Strachan, paid dividends. Hodge's low drive won a corner and Strachan floated the ball over for Chris Whyte to flick on and Chapman to lunge in and head his third goal of the season.
Leeds thought they had won when James could only parry Cantona's shot and Chapman cracked in the loose ball. But Lancashire referee Roger Dilkes ruled he had barged over David Burrows.
Leeds had made an assured start, boosted when McAllister caught Chapman's flick with a 20-yard right foot volley that left James rooted to his line.
But the former Watford goalkeeper, already tipped for England senior recognition, then blocked further Leeds progress, saving magnificently from Cantona after 35 minutes.
With only seconds left of the first half Liverpool hit back with a goal from Whelan that rolled back the years. In an echo of the 1983 Milk Cup Final against Manchester United, he skilfully chipped the ball over John Lukic from the angle of the penalty area after Mark Wright's pass enabled Paul Stewart to beat the offside trap.
Leeds showed signs of a self-destructive streak, only a week after they crashed at Middlesbrough. But they were furious when Jon Newsome was penalised for what looked like a dive by Liverpool substitute Mark Walters - though the original sin was David Batty's for trying to be too clever in his own penalty area.
After the protests subsided, Molby drove the ball emphatically past Lukic from the spot and until Chapman's late intervention, the champions were struggling.
Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson was upset to be denied the victory over Liverpool that would have taken the champions within touching distance of leaders Blackburn.
He thought striker Lee Chapman had followed up his late equaliser with an even more dramatic goal at Elland Road and said: "I thought he had got our winner. But what I think doesn't matter. It's what the referee decides that's important. I'm happy to let referees make decisions. It was a great fightback considering the two goals we conceded, one on the stroke of half-time and a penalty with not much time left. But in the end their goalkeeper and perhaps the referee's decision made the difference between one and three points."
Wilkinson added: "Everyone talks about the pressure of being champions and the fact that all other teams want to do well against us. But at the moment we are showing we've got the character to deal with that."
Liverpool manager Graeme Souness was clearly annoyed at having a much-needed victory snatched away. He emerged more than an hour after the end of the game, saying merely: "I'm disappointed - I won't say more than that."
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