Only a second away win of 2023, but take nothing away from the efficiency of Liverpool’s forward play as they swept a disconsolate Leeds side away with a masterful show of ruthless finishing.
Lowly Leeds had half-chances in the opening exchanges but ultimately repeated the same mistakes that led to a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Palace last time out, undone by individual mistakes and shoddy defending.
Once Gakpo put Liverpool in front they began to cut Leeds open at will, with Jota robbing Weston McKennie on the halfway line, which led to a counter-attack that saw Salah score the visitors’ second.
A blunder from Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate allowed Sinisterra to momentarily reduce arrears but celebrations were short-lived as Jota restored the Reds’ two-goal advantage five minutes later, latching onto a superb pass from Curtis Jones to sweep past Meslier.
Diogo Jota scores his second goal of the game as Liverpool go 5-1 up away at Leeds.
As Elland Road emptied, Salah put the result beyond doubt when Andy Robertson’s raid down the left found Gakpo well placed, and he helped the ball onto Salah, who curled his 15th league strike of the season into the far corner.
Not to be outdone, Jota’s scuffed finish from Jordan Henderson’s cross then rubber-stamped his return to form, having not scored in 32 appearances before tonight, while Nunez completed the rout by converting another instinctive Alexander-Arnold pass.
“The second half against Arsenal (when Liverpool came from behind to draw 2-2 with the leaders) was super important for all of us,” Klopp added. “There are still eight games to come and we have to do what we did tonight again and again.
“I hope these one-and-a-half games gives us a right sign for the end of the season.”
