Leeds leaks goals again as Liverpool scores six at Elland Road

Earlier in the season, Leeds shocked Anfield with a stoppage-time win against Liverpool. That win for the Whites came off the back of a four-game losing streak.

This time, it was Liverpool to pick up a win on the road, albeit less dramatically, to end a four-match unbeaten this streak. Liverpool had two losses and two draws in its last four games, all but eliminating its hopes of finishing in the Champions League spots. However, Europa League or Europa Conference League is still in reach.

Monday’s 6-1 win at Elland Road allows Liverpool to retain its spot of eighth in the league table. Yet, with Brighton and Aston Villa both winning at the weekend, European qualification is still a challenge. For the Europa League, Liverpool is six points back of Tottenham. Then, for fourth, Newcastle has a nine-point edge on Jürgen Klopp’s side.

While it has been an otherwise forgettable season, the win at Elland Road was reminiscent of Liverpool sides of years past.

Vicious counterattacks in quick succession

The always-feisty Leeds United came out strong. The first chance of the game came to the hosts. Off a Jack Harrison cross, Rodrigo nodded the ball on net, but the waiting palms of Alisson snatched the ball up.

In classic Liverpool fashion, though, the Reds only needed one sniff. A turnover from Junior Firpo in the defender’s own half clanked off Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arm. The defender played a quick one-two with Mohamed Salah, and the English defender played a smooth ball to the back post. Cody Gakpo, waiting patiently behind Illan Meslier, merely tapped it in.

A bad situation for Leeds became worse just four minutes later. Another blistering counterattack from the visitors started after Diogo Jota won the ball back in the Leeds half. He played in Salah, who powered a left-footed shot past Meslier.

Liverpool buries Leeds with four-goal second half

Leeds got itself a lifeline early in the second half. Ibrahima Konate had a shocking turnover not far from his own penalty box. Luis Sinisterra picked up the ball and dinked it over an onrushing Alisson. Immediately after, Leeds’s tenacity kept Liverpool on the back foot.

Yet, a trait of Liverpool for the last six years, a turnover in play in the midfield led to a goal. Curtis Jones worked a phenomenal ball into the path of Diogo Jota, who guided the ball past Meslier. That goal came just five minutes after Leeds got back into the game.

In a nine-minute span after the hour mark, both Salah and Jota secured their braces. A pair of delightful finishes to Meslier’s right side came in different ways. Salah’s goal came on the back of yet another counterattack. However, after Liverpool opened a three-goal lead, it began to dominate around the Leeds penalty box. Jota then had a pass played to him at the top of the box. He took it on first time and banged it off the post and in.

As stoppage time rolled around, Darwin Núñez made a bad night a terrible night for Leeds supporters, as he added a sixth for Liverpool. Trent Alexander Arnold supplied his 50th Premier League assist in his career as the Uruguayan finished his one-on-one with Meslier.

The worst defense in the Premier League

The 6-1 loss is one of the worst results in the history of Leeds United. However, in the present, it adds to the spiral Leeds finds itself in. The club has now conceded 11 goals in its last two games, both coming at home, as well. Now, Leeds has the worst defensive record in the Premier League. Leeds conceded 60 times in its 31 games, one worse than Bournemouth. Funnily, both clubs have a one-goal win over Liverpool this season, and Liverpool pounded each in the reverse fixture.

The consequence of the poor defense has Leeds firmly in the relegation battle. It is two points above the drop, but the club’s goal differential is now far worse off. If the club is relegated, it loses its chance for a takeover from the San Francisco 49ers, which would be massive for the club’s future.

PHOTO: IMAGO / News Images