Liverpool’s English midfielder Harvey Elliott (right) celebrates scoring his team’s seventh goal alongside the club’s Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah (left) during the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Glasgow Rangers and Liverpool at Ibrox Stadium on 12 October 2022. (Photo by Andy Buchanan/AFP)
Liverpool crushed Leeds United 6‑1 at Elland Road, with Cody Gakpo’s controversial opener sparking the Reds’ first Premier League win in five games on Monday. The goal stood despite the ball striking Trent Alexander‑Arnold’s arm in the build‑up; VAR did not review the incident because it occurred early in the move, prompting Leeds protests. Mohamed Salah extended Liverpool’s lead four minutes later, before Luis Sinisterra pulled one back for the struggling hosts. Diogo Jota added a double, Salah scored again, and Darwin Núñez finished the scoring, ending Liverpool’s five‑game winless streak across all competitions.
After coming close to a quadruple last season, Liverpool now find themselves fighting for a place in next season’s Europa League or Europa Conference League, with the Champions League seemingly out of reach. The eighth‑placed Reds are just two points behind seventh‑placed Brighton. Jurgen Klopp has likened fan criticism of Liverpool’s reluctance to make big‑money signings in the upcoming close season to a five‑year‑old asking for a Ferrari for Christmas. Yet, given their composed display and the recent comeback from two goals down to draw 2‑2 with league leaders Arsenal, Liverpool still possess the foundations for a return to prominence next term.
Leeds crumbled again eight days after their 5‑1 home defeat to Crystal Palace and now sit only two points above the relegation zone with seven games remaining. Javi Gracia’s side were booed off after becoming only the second club to concede five or more home goals in successive Premier League matches.
**Rampant Reds** – After marking the 34th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster before kick‑off, Liverpool seized the momentum despite a dubious opening goal in the 35th minute. Alexander‑Arnold blocked Junior Firpo’s pass with his elbow before finding Salah, who passed back to Alexander‑Arnold. The right‑back squared the ball to Gakpo, who slotted home from close range. Leeds protested, but VAR did not intervene. Gakpo’s fifth goal since joining from PSV Eindhoven in January was followed by another Salah strike, his eighth in six appearances against Leeds. Jota advanced unchecked, slipped a pass to Salah, and the striker finished with precision.
Ibrahima Konaté handed Leeds a goal in the 47th minute when he was dispossessed by Sinisterra on the edge of the area; Sinisterra’s shot clipped over Alisson Becker. Leeds’ hopes were extinguished within five minutes when Curtis Jones delivered a raking pass to Jota, who drilled past Meslier for his first league goal in 12 months. VAR later disallowed a Liverpool goal when Salah’s effort was ruled offside against Virgil van Dijk, but the Reds still scored their fourth of the night in the 64th minute: Gakpo received Andrew Robertson’s pass and set up Salah for an emphatic finish from six yards.
Jota swept in Jordan Henderson’s cross after 73 minutes, and Núñez added the final flourish, controlling Alexander‑Arnold’s pass on his chest before firing home in the 90th minute. (AFP)
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