Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring the team’s fourth goal with Cody Gakpo during the Premier League match against Leeds United on April 17, 2023. Photo Credit: Reuters
Liverpool beat Leeds 6-1 on Monday to record their first win in five matches in the English Premier League.
Liverpool had not tasted victory in more than six weeks since then Trample Manchester United 7-0,
But after leading 2-0 at halftime after Cody Gakpo’s opener and a flamboyant addition from Mohamed Salah, Liverpool were able to overcome Leeds in the second half. Salah and Diogo Jota finished with a brace each, and Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score late on.
Leeds halved the deficit two minutes after the break when Ibrahima Konate headed in for Luis Sinisterra, who deflected his effort past goalkeeper Alisson to make it 2–1.
But the Leeds defense collapsed in familiar fashion, losing 5–1 to Crystal Palace at home eight days later in a series of heavy defeats. Leeds have conceded 60 league goals, more than any other side,
Liverpool remained eighth in the standings, two points behind Brighton. Leeds’ survival hopes were dealt another blow as they finished 16th, two points above the drop zone.
Best performance of the season: Klopp
Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool’s best performance of the season.
The Reds manager said, “The moment I enjoyed the most in the game was the 92nd minute.” “It’s already 6-1 and we lose the ball and we had four players chasing.
“From a counter-pressure point of view it was definitely the best game we’ve played this season, probably in possession too.
“We were calm in crucial moments to pass exceptional balls. Mo had another super play. Ball to Robbo (Andrew Robertson) to Curtis (Jones), then Cody (Gakpo) and then Mo. It was really cool. There were a lot of good moments.”
Liverpool went ahead in controversial fashion in the 34th minute. Trent Alexander-Arnold Jr. appeared to be using his arm to control the ball when firing away Firpo. But referee Craig Pawson allowed the game to continue and there was no VAR intervention after a return pass from Salah was found by Alexander-Arnold before crossing low for Gakpo to head home.
There was nothing controversial about the visitors’ second goal. Jota robbed Weston McKennie in midfield and slid in Salah, who smashed a left-footed finish into the top corner from the left edge of the penalty area.
The visitors scored twice in four minutes from their first two chances to take complete control by halftime.
Leeds pulled themselves back two minutes after the restart. Ibrahima Konate was taken down by Sinisterra and the Colombian showed strength and composure to get a clean finish on Alisson.
But five minutes later, Liverpool took a two-goal lead. Jota ran on a defense-splitting pass from Jones and fired a first-time shot beyond Ilan Meslier.
Leeds hit the post through Brendan Aaronson’s long-range effort and Salah’s effort was ruled offside after a VAR check before Liverpool put the result beyond doubt in the 64th.
Gakpo assisted Robertson’s cross and the unmarked Salah fired in at the far post for his 15th league goal.
Liverpool sealed their supremacy with a fifth through Jota’s curled finish from Jordan Henderson’s cross in the 73rd.
The defeat was completed in the last minute, with substitute Núñez’s clinical finish from Alexander-Arnold’s pass ruled out by VAR.