Earlier within the season, Leeds shocked Anfield with a stoppage-time win towards Liverpool. That win for the Whites got here off the again of a four-game dropping streak.
This time, it was Liverpool to select up a win on the street, albeit much less dramatically, to finish a four-match unbeaten this streak. Liverpool had two losses and two attracts in its final 4 video games, all however eliminating its hopes of ending within the Champions League spots. Nonetheless, Europa League or Europa Convention League continues to be in attain.
Monday’s 6-1 win at Elland Street permits Liverpool to retain its spot of eighth within the league desk. But, with Brighton and Aston Villa each successful on the weekend, European qualification continues to be a problem. For the Europa League, Liverpool is six factors again of Tottenham. Then, for fourth, Newcastle has a nine-point edge on Jürgen Klopp’s facet.
Whereas it has been an in any other case forgettable season, the win at Elland Street was paying homage to Liverpool sides of years previous.
Vicious counterattacks in fast succession
The always-feisty Leeds United got here out sturdy. The primary probability of the sport got here to the hosts. Off a Jack Harrison cross, Rodrigo nodded the ball on web, however the ready palms of Alisson snatched the ball up.
In basic Liverpool trend, although, the Reds solely wanted one sniff. A turnover from Junior Firpo within the defender’s personal half clanked off Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arm. The defender performed a fast one-two with Mohamed Salah, and the English defender performed a clean ball to the again submit. Cody Gakpo, ready patiently behind Illan Meslier, merely tapped it in.
A foul state of affairs for Leeds turned worse simply 4 minutes later. One other blistering counterattack from the guests began after Diogo Jota gained the ball again within the Leeds half. He performed in Salah, who powered a left-footed shot previous Meslier.
Liverpool buries Leeds with four-goal second half
Leeds bought itself a lifeline early within the second half. Ibrahima Konate had a surprising turnover not removed from his personal penalty field. Luis Sinisterra picked up the ball and . Instantly after, Leeds’s tenacity stored Liverpool on the again foot.
But, a trait of Liverpool for the final six years, a turnover in play within the midfield led to a objective. Curtis Jones labored an outstanding ball into the trail of Diogo Jota, who guided the ball previous Meslier. That objective got here simply 5 minutes after Leeds bought again into the sport.
In a nine-minute span after the hour mark, each Salah and Jota secured their braces. A pair of pleasant finishes to Meslier’s proper facet got here in numerous methods. Salah’s objective got here on the again of one more counterattack. Nonetheless, after Liverpool opened a three-goal lead, it started to dominate across the Leeds penalty field. Jota then had a move performed to him on the prime of the field. He took it on first time and banged it off the submit and in.
As stoppage time rolled round, Darwin Núñez made a nasty evening a horrible evening for Leeds supporters, as he added a sixth for Liverpool. Trent Alexander Arnold provided his fiftieth Premier League help in his profession because the Uruguayan completed his one-on-one with Meslier.
The worst protection within the Premier League
The 6-1 loss is without doubt one of the worst leads to the historical past of Leeds United. Nonetheless, within the current, it provides to the spiral Leeds finds itself in. The membership has now conceded 11 objectives in its final two video games, each coming at residence, as properly. Now, Leeds has the worst defensive report within the Premier League. Leeds conceded 60 occasions in its 31 video games, one worse than Bournemouth. Funnily, each golf equipment have a one-goal win over Liverpool this season, and Liverpool pounded every within the reverse fixture.
The consequence of the poor protection has Leeds firmly within the relegation battle. It’s two factors above the drop, however the membership’s objective differential is now far worse off. If the membership is relegated, it loses its probability for a takeover from the San Francisco 49ers, which might be large for the membership’s future.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Information Pictures
