Premier League: Liverpool thrash Leeds United at Elland Road

• Leeds United hosted Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday, April 17 2023
• The Reds headed into the match with a poor away run in the Premier League this season
• Monday night was however different as Liverpool thrashed Leeds 6-1 at Elland Road to boost their top-four hopes

Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League with a 6-1 thrashing of Leeds United on Monday, with Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota both scoring twice.

Jurgen Klopp’s side had not won in any competition since a hammering of Manchester United on March 5, but they halted a five-game winless record against their relegation-threatened hosts.

Liverpool grabbed control thanks to a first-half double from Cody Gakpo and Salah, but Luis Sinisterra equalized two minutes later at Elland Road.

There was no spectacular comeback as a Jota brace, either side of Salah’s second, ensured three points and brought the Reds to within six points of Europa League qualification, before Darwin Nunez scored off the bench.

Leeds could have taken the lead against the run of play when Rodrigo headed a fantastic seventh-minute chance from Jack Harrison’s free-kick straight at Alisson.

But Liverpool took the lead in the 35th minute when Trent Alexander-Arnold dispossessed Junior Firpo before playing a one-two with Salah and setting up a straightforward Gakpo finish.

After Jota’s exquisite offload, Salah increased Liverpool’s lead four minutes later with a rasping drive past Illan Meslier.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his second against Leeds United in the Premier League on Monday, April 17 2023. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |

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Due to an error by Ibrahima Konate, Sinisterra was able to speed through and chip Alisson, but Leeds’ momentum was quickly halted when Curtis Jones found Jota, who curled past the onrushing Meslier.

Brenden Aaronson’s looped long-range attempt hit the post before an unselfish Gakpo pass rolled in Salah for a cool left-footed finish into the bottom-left corner.

Nunez capped the thrashing by latching onto Alexander Arnold’s dinked ball and firing past Meslier after Jota found the same corner from Jordan Henderson’s feed.

Liverpool get a much-needed away win despite a poor away run

Prior to this trip, Klopp’s team had only 13 points in 15 Premier League away games this season, but Leeds remained a comfortable hunting ground for the Reds.

Liverpool have not lost in their last six league visits to Elland Road, dating back to a 4-3 loss in November 2000, when Mark Viduka scored all four Leeds goals.

While they are not in contention for any silverware this season, Klopp will want his squad to produce similar away performances for the rest of the season as they seek European qualification.

Salah had a fairly quiet season compared to his normal lofty standards, having scored 13 times in 29 league appearances prior to this meeting, but the Liverpool man came to the fore once again against Leeds.

The forward has nine Premier League goals against Leeds, with no Reds player having more – only Gordon Hodgson has more in Liverpool’s whole league history.