Liverpool hit Leeds for six after controversial Gakpo opener

LEEDS     -    Liverpool crushed Leeds 6-1 as Cody Gakpo’s con­troversial opener provided the spark for the Reds’ first win in five Premier League games. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side took the lead at Elland Road when Gakpo’s goal was allowed to stand despite the ball strik­ing Trent Alexander-Arnold’s arm in the build-up. It was reported the VAR official did not check the incident because it happened too far back in the move, but Leeds were furious at the perceived injustice. 

Mohamed Salah rubbed salt into Leeds’ wounds when he increased Liverpool’s lead four minutes later before Luis Sinisterra got one back for the struggling hosts. Diogo Jota’s double, another Salah strike and Darwin Nunez’s late effort ensured Liverpool ended their five-game win­less run in all competitions. 

After coming within a whis­ker of winning a quadruple last season, Liverpool have been reduced to scrambling to reach next season’s Euro­pa League or Europa Confer­ence League, with the Cham­pions League seemingly out of reach. With that target in mind, the eighth-placed Reds are now within two points of seventh-placed Brighton. 

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Klopp has compared fan criticism of Liverpool poten­tially not making big-money transfers in the coming close-season as like a five-year-old asking for a Ferrari for Christmas. But on the evi­dence of this composed dis­play and the recent fightback from two goals down to draw 2-2 with leaders Arsenal, Liv­erpool still have the founda­tions in place for a return to prominence next term. 

Leeds crumbled again eight days after their 5-1 home de­feat against Crystal Palace and sit just two points above the relegation zone with sev­en games left. Javi Gracia’s team were booed off after be­coming only the second club to concede five or more home goals in successive Premier League games. 

After marking the 34th anniversary of the Hillsbor­ough disaster before kick-off, Liverpool quickly seized the momentum before their dubious opener in the 35th minute. Alexander-Arnold blocked Junior Firpo’s pass with his elbow before pick­ing out Salah. 

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When Salah passed back to Alexander-Arnold, the right-back squared for Gak­po to slot home from close range. Leeds were fuming, only for VAR to opt against checking the incident de­spite their protests. 

Gakpo’s fifth goal since signing from PSV Eindhoven in January was followed by the latest example of Salah tormenting Leeds. Salah’s eighth goal in six appear­ances against Leeds came in ruthless fashion. Jota was al­lowed to advance unchecked before slipping a pass to Salah, who finished with un­erring precision. 

Ibrahima Konate handed Leeds a goal in the 47th minute when the Liverpool centre-back allowed himself to be dispossessed by Sinis­terra on the edge of the area. Sinisterra gratefully accept­ed the gift as he clipped his shot over the exposed Alis­son Becker. 

But Leeds’ comeback hopes were extinguished within five minutes as Curtis Jones’ raking pass picked out Jota, who drilled past Illan Meslier from just inside the area for his first league goal in 12 months. VAR did disal­low a Liverpool goal when Salah’s effort was ruled out for offside against Virgil van Dijk, but the rampant Reds still bagged their fourth of the night in the 64th minute.

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