Liverpool thrashed Leeds 6-1 as Cody Gakpo’s controversial opener provided the spark for the Reds’ first win in five Premier League games on Monday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side took the lead at Elland Road when a Gakpo goal was disallowed despite Trent Alexander-Arnold hitting the arm in the build-up.
It was reported that the VAR official did not investigate the incident as it had occurred in a move too far back, but Leeds were furious at the perceived injustice.
Mohamed Salah rubbed salt into Leeds’ wounds when he extended Liverpool’s lead after four minutes, before Luis Sinisterra pulled one back for the struggling hosts.
Diogo Jota’s double, another Salah strike and Darwin Nuñez’s late effort ensured Liverpool ended their five-game winless run in all competitions.
After winning the quadruple last season, Liverpool have fallen short of reaching next season’s Europa League or Europa Conference League, with the Champions League seemingly out of reach.
With that goal in mind, the eighth-placed Reds are now within two points of seventh-placed Brighton.
Klopp said, “It is the best match we have played this season from every point of view.”
“My favorite part was in the 92nd minute when we chased the poor boy down on the ball for Leeds. The counter-pressing was the best for decades, I dare say!”
Klopp has compared fan criticism of Liverpool for not making a potentially big-money transfer in the coming close season, like a five-year-old asking for a Ferrari for Christmas.
But on the evidence of this restrained performance and a recent 2-2 draw with leaders Arsenal after coming from two goals behind, Liverpool still have the foundations for a return to prominence next term.
“The second half against Arsenal was very important for us. We have to do what we did repeatedly tonight,” Klopp said.
“I hope these one and a half games give us the right signal for the end of the season.
“I would like to see us with the same desire and passion. That’s the job, keep bringing it up.”
Eight days after their 5–1 home defeat against Crystal Palace, Leeds faltered again and sat just two points above the relegation zone with seven games remaining.
Javi Gracia’s team were criticized after becoming only the second club to concede five or more home goals in consecutive Premier League games.
– Prachanda Red –
After marking the 34th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster before kick-off, Liverpool took the momentum ahead of their questionable opener in the 35th minute.
Alexander-Arnold blocked Junior Firpo’s pass with his elbow before Salah could clear it out.
When Salah dropped back to Alexander-Arnold, the right-back prepared Gakpo to head home from close range.
Leeds were angered, only to go up against an investigation into the incident despite VAR protests.
It was Gakpo’s fifth goal since signing from PSV Eindhoven in January after Salah troubled Leeds.
Salah’s eighth goal in six appearances against Leeds came in brutal fashion.
Jota was allowed to move forward uncontrollably before slipping a pass to Salah, who finished with perfect accuracy.
Ibrahima Konate gave Leeds a goal in the 47th minute when the Liverpool centre-back allowed himself to be fouled on the edge of the area by Sinisterra.
Sinisterra gratefully accepts the gift as he cuts his shot on the exposed Alison Baker.
But Leeds’ hopes of a comeback ended inside five minutes as Curtis Jones’ raking pass picked out Jota, who slotted past Illan Meslier from inside the area for his first league goal in 12 months.
VAR disallowed a Liverpool goal after Salah’s effort against Virgil van Dijk was ruled out for offside, but the Reds still got their fourth of the night in the 64th minute.
Gakpo took Andrew Robertson’s pass and teed up Salah for a powerful finish from six yards.
Jota volleyed in Jordan Henderson’s cross after 73 minutes before Nuñez put the final flourish on Liverpool’s powerful display when he controlled Alexander-Arnold’s pass onto his chest and fired home in the 90th minute.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)