Mohamed Salah added salt to Leeds’ wounds four minutes later when he increased Liverpool’s lead before Luis Sinisterra equalised for the struggling hosts. Liverpool’s five-game winless streak in all competitions was ended by Diogo Jota’s double, another Salah strike, and Darwin Nunez’s late effort.
Liverpool have been reduced to scrambling to reach next season’s Europa League or Europa Conference League after coming within a whisker of winning the quadruple last season, with the Champions League seemingly out of reach.
With that goal in mind, the Reds have closed the gap on seventh-placed Brighton to two points. From all angles, it’s the best game we’ve played this season, Klopp said.
My favourite part was when we chased the poor boy on the ball from Leeds in the 92nd minute. The counter-pressing was the best I’d seen in decades! Klopp has compared Liverpool fans’ criticism of the club not making big-money signings in the upcoming close season to a five-year-old asking for a Ferrari for Christmas.
However, based on this composed performance and the recent comeback from two goals down to draw 2-2 with leaders Arsenal, Liverpool have the foundations in place for a return to prominence next season.
The second half against Arsenal was crucial for us. We have to repeat what we did tonight, Klopp said. I’m hoping that these one-and-a-half games are a good omen for the rest of the season.
I’d like to see us sharing the same desire and passion. That is my job, to consistently deliver. Leeds fell apart again eight days after losing 5-1 at home to Crystal Palace, and they now sit just two points above the relegation zone with seven games remaining.
Javi Gracia’s team was booed off after becoming only the second club in Premier League history to concede five or more home goals in consecutive games. Liverpool quickly seized the momentum before their dubious opener in the 35th minute, after commemorating the 34th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster before kickoff.
Alexander-Arnold used his elbow to block Junior Firpo’s pass before finding Salah. When Salah’s pass was intercepted by Alexander-Arnold, the right-back squared for Gakpo to score from close range.
Leeds were furious, only for VAR to decide not to investigate the incident despite their protests. Salah continued to torment Leeds after Gakpo’s fifth goal since joining from PSV Eindhoven in January.
Salah’s eighth goal in six appearances against Leeds was brutal. Jota was given free reign to advance before slipping a pass to Salah, who finished with unerring precision.
Ibrahima Konate scored for Leeds in the 47th minute after allowing himself to be dispossessed on the edge of the area by Sinisterra. Sinisterra accepted the gift gratefully, clipping his shot over the exposed Alisson Becker.
Leeds’ comeback hopes were dashed within five minutes, however, when Curtis Jones’ raking pass found Jota, who drilled past Illan Meslier from just inside the area for his first league goal in a year.
When Salah’s effort was ruled out for offside against Virgil van Dijk, VAR ruled it out, but the rampant Reds still scored their fourth goal of the night in the 64th minute.
Gakpo received Andrew Robertson’s pass and set up Salah for an emphatic six-yard finish. After 73 minutes, Jota headed in Jordan Henderson’s cross before Nunez finished off Liverpool’s dominant performance by controlling Alexander-Arnold’s pass on his chest and firing home in the 90th minute.
