Liverpool 6 – 0 Leeds

February 23, 2022 admin

Liverpool moved to within three points of Premier League leaders Manchester City with a rip-roaring 6-0 win over Leeds at Anfield on Wednesday.

Mohamed Salah converted two penalties and assisted Joel Matip before the break against a shell-shocked Leeds and the hosts maintained dominance after the interval with Sadio Mane netting a double and Virgil van Dijk heading home a sixth in stoppage time.

A fixture that promised goals duly delivered as Jurgen Klopp’s side exploited the visitors’ customary open approach against the top teams, with the first half played at a frenetic pace.

With 15 minutes on the clock, Fabinho nicked the ball in midfield and found Luis Diaz, who fed Andy Robertson down the left flank. His powerful cross was clearly blocked by Stuart Dallas with his hand and referee Michael Oliver pointed directly to the spot, with Salah sending Illan Meslier the wrong way.

Just 15 minutes later, Matip gathered the ball and had ample time close to the halfway line, look up and find Salah down the right flank, who then threaded an inch-perfect return pass for Matip – who had continued his run into the box – to smash past Meslier.

Team news

Jurgen Klopp made five to the Liverpool team which came from behind to beat Norwich on Saturday. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson returned to the full-back positions, and there was a brand new midfield three as Fabinho, Thiago, and Curtis Jones were drafted into the starting line-up. Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas dropped to the Liverpool bench.
Marcelo Bielsa made two changes to the Leeds United team beaten by Manchester United on Sunday. Raphinha returned to the starting line-up after starting Sunday’s 4-2 defeat on the bench, while Junior Firpo got the nod from the start in a defensive reshuffle as Robin Koch (concussion) and Diego Llorente miss out.

Liverpool ramped up the pressure as the half progressed, with Salah threading another pinpoint pass for the onrushing Mane, who looked to round Meslier before being upended by Luke Ayling’s trailing leg to concede another penalty, which Salah converted with aplomb, again.

Klopp’s side continued to rattle Leeds, cutting through midfield with ease and inventive combinations to find pathways into the box. It should have been four before the break, with Trent Alexander-Arnold whipping a free-kick behind the defensive line and Matip’s touch finding Fabinho, who blazed wide.

Liverpool remained dominant after the break, but the pace of the game slowed as Leeds appeared to assert a degree of damage control, with Salah missing a second opportunity to seal his hat-trick, blazing his effort over the bar after being found by Curtis Jones.

Mane scored his first goal 10 minutes from time. Jordan Henderson won a loose ball from a poor Meslier clearance before feeding Salah, who produced a stunning reverse, return pass for the England midfielder to then sweep a searching ball across the box for Mane to fire home.

Substitute Divock Origi created the fifth goal, breaking down the left flank and colliding with Meslier, with the ball spinning into the path of Mane to double his haul.

The sixth and final blow for Leeds came in stoppage time with Virgil van Dijk heading home unopposed from a Robertson corner.

Man of the match – Mohamed Salah

The Egyptian could have had a hat-trick before the break but still registered three goal involvements, converting two penalties and assisting Matip, having also executed the incisive pass for Mane which led to the second spot-kick.