Ao Tanaka scored a 96th-minute equaliser as Leeds hit back to deny Liverpool a morale-boosting win at Elland Road.
The champions appeared ready to put their recent uncertain form behind them when two quick-fire goals from the recalled Hugo Ekitiké at the start of the second half put them in control.
Leeds hit back, though, and a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty and Anton Stach goal restored parity and set up a frantic final 15 minutes.
Dominik Szoboszlai thought he had won it for Liverpool when he slotted home after 80 minutes but Tanaka smashed home at the far post after the visitors failed to deal with a left-wing corner to send the home fans wild.
The draw means Leeds are now three points clear of the bottom three. Liverpool are eighth.
No goals but Liverpool edge first half
Leeds made a bright start with Noah Okafor dragging an early chance wide and Gabriel Gudmundsson firing over inside the opening four minutes.
Liverpool grew slowly into the game and came close to the opener after 17 minutes. Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones exchanged passes, freeing up the England international to curl a wonderful effort onto the bar with Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri beaten.
Ekitike then came close after good work from Florian Wirtz.
Virgil van Dijk was next to try his luck after 28 minutes, his header from a Szoboszlai free-kick flashing just over.
Leeds were stringing very few passes together and Liverpool remained on the front foot with Gakpo’s deflected shot squirting inches wide of the post.
Ekitike double not enough
A relatively calm opening 45 minutes made way for an absorbing second, kick-started by Ekitike.
The France international opened the scoring within three minutes of the restart, capitalising on a poor pass from Joe Rodon to run through and slip the ball past Perri.
It was 2-0 two minutes later as Ekitike challenged Perri as they tussled to get on the end of Conor Bradley’s cross and the ball ricocheted into the net.
Leeds offered little by way of a response until the 66th minute when Alisson had to be alert to keep out a close-range effort from Jayden Bogle.
Perri produced a brilliant stop to deny Gakpo and it proved a pivotal moment when, shortly afterwards, Ibrahima Konate needlessly clattered into Willy Gnonto and Calvert-Lewin made no mistake from the spot.
With Elland Road suddenly believing, the noise levels went up several decibels and Liverpool looked vulnerable. The equaliser came when Stach was afforded too much time and space in the area and he sidestepped the weak challenge of Curtis Jones before firing past Alisson.
Perri saved superbly from a Virgil Van Dijk header before the outstanding Szoboszlai ran on to Ryan Gravenberch’s pass and coolly slotted the Reds back in front.
It looked like being the winner but Leeds came again and got the goal they craved when Stach’s corner was not dealt with and substitute Tanaka fired home.
There was still time for Alexander Isak to glance a header wide but Leeds held on.