Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool's 6-1 thrashing of Leeds United was "the best game we've played all season" as the Reds ended a five-game winless run.
Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota both fired doubles after Cody Gakpo had given Liverpool the lead at Elland Road, while substitute Darwin Nunez completed the rout in the final minute.
Luis Sinisterra reduced the deficit for Leeds when making it 2-1 early in the second half, but it proved only brief respite as Liverpool put the hosts to the sword.
Klopp said: “The moment in the game I enjoyed the most was the 92nd minute. It’s already 6-1 and we lose the ball and we had four players chasing.
“From a counter-pressing point of view that was definitely the best game we’ve played this season, in possession probably as well.
“We were calm in the decisive moments to pass exceptional balls. I think Mo’s second was super play. Curtis [Jones] to Robbo [Andrew Robertson], then Cody [Gakpo] and then the ball to Mo. That was really good.
“There were lots of good moments. Last goal, sensational pass from Trent [Alexander-Arnold] and Darwin [Nunez] can finish it off. It was a good game.”
-
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his second goal during the 6-1 Premier League win against Leeds United at Elland Road, April 17, 2023. EPA -
Pascal Struijk, right, of Leeds in action against Mohamed Salah of Liverpool. EPA -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scores their side's fourth goal. PA -
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool scores the team's second goal. Getty Images -
Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah celebrates with Andrew Robertson after scoring their second goal. AFP -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against Leeds. AP Photo -
Junior Firpo of Leeds in action against Cody Gakpo of Liverpool. EPA -
Leeds United's French goalkeeper Illan Meslier sees the ball hit the back of his net as Liverpool's Dutch striker Cody Gakpo (not pictured) scores the opening goal. AFP -
Leeds United midfielder Marc Roca pulls the shirt of Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo. AFP -
Rasmus Kristensen of Leeds in action against Diogo Jota of Liverpool. EPA -
Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores their side's fifth goal. PA -
Diogo Jota of Liverpool celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal. EPA -
Leeds United's Weston McKennie reacts after Liverpool's Diogo Jota scores their fifth goal. Reuters -
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool controls the ball before scoring the sixth goal . EPA -
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool celebrates. EPA -
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Darwin Nunez celebrate after the match. Reuters
While the performance and result against a team battling relegation was encouraging it still leaves Liverpool in eighth place in the Premier League table and three points adrift of the Europa League places with eight games remaining.
A year after chasing an unprecedented quadruple, the Reds are already out of the Champions League having been eliminated by Real Madrid in the last-16 and have surrendered the League Cup and FA Cups won last term.
“We’ve played a really bad season, but some things are not really to explain,” Klopp added.
“Some things are, some things aren’t. Some things are definitely not acceptable, but now we can put in good performances we can understand what is possible.
“That’s really important for me and that’s why I don’t think where we can push to, I just want us to play top football and win games and we’ll see where we end up.”
Ratings
-
LEEDS UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Illan Meslier – 2. A forgettable night for Meslier who picked the ball out of the net on six occasions, though much was down to a shocking defensive display. Reuters -
Junior Firpo – 2. Firpo’s mistake was the crucial one as he failed to clear his lines with any conviction, allowing Alexander-Arnold to assist the opener. Struggled to cope with Salah, whom he left wide open in the second half when scoring his brace. PA -
Pascal Struijk – 2. Looked to give up on tracking Salah for Liverpool’s second and lacked communication with Firpo on his side. PA -
Robin Koch – 3. Started brightly by marking Gakpo tightly, but in the end was part of a torrid defensive display. Beaten too easily by Robertson on Salah’s brace. Reuters -
Rasmus Kristensen – 3. Kept Jota quiet early on but eventually lost track of him. Played Nunez onside for Liverpool’s sixth goal of the game. Reuters -
Marc Roca – 4. Seemed to get unnecessarily dragged out to wide areas where he delivered crosses that were easily dealt with. Reuters -
Weston McKennie – 4. Sloppy in possession and provided little assurance after the opening goal. Had to do more to block off the areas around the penalty area, as seen with Jota’s unchallenged volley. AFP -
Luis Sinisterra – 6. Looked to make things happen when on the ball and got his reward when tackling Konate in his own half before an excellent finish. Worryingly for Leeds fans, Sinisterra was later forced off with an injury. Getty -
Brenden Aaronson – 5. Unlucky with an effort before the hour mark that was inches from finding the top corner, and always tried to get Leeds going in the right direction. Reuters -
Jack Harrison – 4. Struggled to create anything meaningful with play that saw attacks break down when the ball got to him. Must be much more accurate with his passing. Reuters -
Rodrigo – 4. Had a half-chance from a set piece but lacked conviction with his header. Anonymous in the second half. Reuters -
SUBS: Crysencio Summerville (Rodrigo 66’) – 5. Scored the decisive goal in the previous fixture at Anfield, but there was no chance of heroics this time around. Always looked to play progressively despite having a lack of options at times. AP -
Georginio Rutter (Aaronsen 66’) – 5. Rarely found himself in possession after being introduced for Aaronsen in the 66th minute. AFP -
Wilfried Gnonto (Harrison 77’) – N/A. Did nothing when introduced as Liverpool continued to control the game. Reuters -
Adam Forshaw (Sinisterra 77’) – N/A. Introduced in the 77th minute after Sinisterra went down after appearing to tweak something. PA -
LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson – 6. Commanded his area to claim the ball and positioned well to save from Rodrigo. Lost his cleansheet after a poor error from Konate allowed Sinisterra to chip past him. Getty -
Andrew Robertson – 6. Pressed well and didn’t get beaten on his side, though his best moment of the match was his involvement for Salah’s brace when he breezed past Koch with an impressive first touch. Reuters -
Virgil van Dijk – 7. Anticipated the danger instantly to track balls coming in behind and looked comfortable when winning his duels. AP -
Ibrahima Konate – 5. - Impressive outside of one moment of madness that saw him too slow to react, failing to clear the danger amid pressure from Sinisterra. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7. Got Liverpool off and running after winning back possession before assisting the opener. Regularly found space in midfield to help transition the ball forward. AP -
Fabinho – 6. Alert to developing situations and blocked off the central areas of the pitch well. Kept things simple with his passing. Reuters -
Curtis Jones – 7. A third Premier League start in a row for Jones who capped it off with a superb pass to Jota for Liverpool’s third. A solid display from midfield where he took good care of the ball. PA -
Jordan Henderson – 7. Slow to get going but benefitted when spaces began to open. Worked hard to win the midfield battle and keep Liverpool on the front foot. Reuters -
Diogo Jota – 8. A wasteful 30 minutes from Jota saw him not wake up until late on in the first half, winning back possession before putting the ball perfectly on Salah’s left-foot to finish with class. Then helped himself to two goals in the second half. Getty -
Cody Gakpo – 8. Showing signs of progress in the false nine role, where he linked play elegantly on the front line. Rarely gave away possession and was patient with his decision-making. Opened the scoring and picked up an assist after finding Salah for his brace. Getty -
Mohamed Salah – 8. The Egypt international was in clinical form at Elland Road, with two finishes that came from the top drawer. That is the sort of lethality that the Reds need him to show if they are to make the top four. EPA -
SUBS: James Milner (Henderson 81’) – N/A. Back at the club where he made his professional debut. PA -
Darwin Nunez (Gakpo 81’) – 7. Put the icing on the cake with a well-timed run and finish past Meslier. EPA -
Luis Diaz (Gakpo 81’) – N/A. Back after a long time out through injury, and much appreciated by the Liverpool fans in the away end. EPA -
Roberto Firmino (Jota 82’) – N/A. Came on for Jota in the 82nd minute. EPA -
Thiago Alcantara (Fabinho 85’) – N/A. More beneficial minutes for Thiago who has just returned from injury. Getty
Leeds appear to be in free-fall after conceding 11 goals in their last two games, following up their 5-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace eight days ago with another devastating loss.
They have now conceded 60 league goals this season, more than any other side, and remain two points above the drop zone with seven games to play.
Head coach Javi Gracia admitted his side’s latest humbling was one of the low points of his managerial career.
“It’s hard to manage, of course,” Gracia said. “I don’t remember in my career if in two games in a row I conceded five, then six goals. I don’t remember that.
“It’s hard to manage, but I’m here to try to give my best, to try to help the team, to help the club and that is what I’m going to do.”
