Leeds 1-6 Liverpool: Jota and Salah double as Reds regain confidence

You wouldn’t expect it after half an hour, but Liverpool have met Leeds for the sixth time with all their first three goals – including Diogo Jota’s first goals in over a year!

Leeds 1-6 Liverpool

Goals

Gakpo 35′ (Assist: Alexander Arnold)
Salah 01′ (Assistant: Jota)
Sinister 47′
Jota 52′ (Assistant: Jones)
Salah 64′ (Assistant: Gakpo)
Jota 73′ (Assistant: Henderson)
Nunez 90′ (Assist: Alexander Arnold)

Jurgen Klopp named an unchanged squad, keeping Thiago, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz on the bench.

The Reds had plenty of possession early on but failed to create a chance and instead the hosts should have taken the lead in the 7th minute when Rodrygo headed in a free kick.

Liverpool had 79 per cent possession in the first 20 minutes but only one shot compared to Leeds’ three attempts on goal.

In fact, Liverpool’s first shot on target didn’t come until the 35th minute when Cody Gakpo scored the opening goal from the penalty area.

The lead was doubled in style soon after when Mo Salah fired into the top corner after Leeds lost the ball in midfield and Diogo Jota played in the Egyptian. Two goals in four minutes turned the game around.

First Half: Leeds 0-2 Liverpool

All in front 3 in goal

Jota scores first goal in over a year

First away win vs. team not in the top 6 this season

The reds remain eighth in the standings

Leeds were back in the game within two minutes of the restart as Ibrahima Konate became the last Liverpool player to give an opponent a goal, striker Luis Sinisterra finishing well past Alisson after Konate missed the ball.

However, the two-goal lead was restored within five minutes when Curtis Jones played a fine ball for Jota, sealing the Portuguese tight for his first goal since April last year.

Salah got the ball back into the net shortly after, but Van Dijk was offside after a well-developed set-piece reply. Liverpool didn’t have to wait long to get fourth, Salah finishing off a superb counter attack with Andy Robertson bursting down the left and finishing off with Gakpo closing in front of the number 11 to crawl home in signature style.

Klopp has repeatedly said that his team is suffering from a lack of confidence and suddenly he has found a bit of bravado, as if he is likely to score and the forwards are brimming with confidence.

Henderson’s cross ended up on the edge of the area and Jota kicked in with renewed vigor for the double.

There was also something positive, with the inclusion of Diaz – alongside Nunez, Firmino and Milner – in the final 10 minutes, the Colombian returning for his first appearance since October.

A great ball from Alexander-Arnold in the final minute was controlled and finished off by Nunez for sixth.

Having failed to score a single goal against a bottom-half side prior to this game this season, Liverpool have decisively put that stat to rest.

They also recorded their first win in 43 days and first away win against a team outside the top six.

Next is another relegation-threatened side, Nottingham Forest, at Anfield on Saturday.
TIA man of the match: Mo Salah

Referee: Craig Pawson

Leeds: Meslier; Kristensen, Koch, Struijk, Firpo; McKennie, Rock; Harrison, Sinisterra, Aaronson; Rodrigo

Subs: Robles, Wober, Cooper, Ayling, Forshaw, Summerville, Greenwood, Gnonto, Rutter

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho (Thiago 85′), Henderson (Milner 81′), Jones; Salah (Diaz 81′), Gakpo (Nunez 81′), Jota (Firmino 81′)

Unused: Kelleher, Elliott, Tsimikas, Matip.

Also.. 

Liverpool FC injury and fitness updates ahead of Leeds United match 

Liverpool travel to Leeds looking for their first win in six games and the weekend has brought some positive news for the team. So who’s in and who’s out?

With the Reds slipping miserably from fourth place, Champions League qualification is unlikely, but they are still in the fight for a place in the Europa League.

Jurgen Klopp had good and bad news as he spoke ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Yorkshire on Monday. Luis Diaz is set to return to the matchday squad for the first time in six months, meaning he will have missed 31 games this season through injury.

Thiago, who came on as a substitute against Arsenal, should also play a role. If he debuts, it will be his first since February 4.
Unfortunately, Alisson and Ibrahmia Konate missed both training sessions during the week – but they were both pictured in training on Saturday.

Here’s an update on Liverpool’s injured list ahead of the Liverpool game. London:

Luis Diaz (knee) – available

Alisson (illness) – probably available

Ibrahima Konaté (unknown) – probably available

Naby Keita (muscle) – absent

Calvin Ramsay (knee) – out

Stefan Bajcetic (kidnapper) – absent

What Klopp said

On Friday, Klopp told reporters that Diaz ‘will be in the squad’ against Leeds, hailing his number 23 as ‘a breath of fresh air’:

“Luis, he’s developed massively [while he was next]. Meanwhile, his English is getting better and better, so he’s really settled in.

“He was here every day, as is the case with injured players and especially long-term injured players, they are even more on the training ground than everyone else, so every day with therapists and stuff like that.

“He’s really matured again, he’s a lot more comfortable than when he started with everything in a new country, so that’s really good and that will help him too.
“So we’re very happy to have him back.”

Available squad of Liverpool vs. guidere

Portieri: Alisson, Adrian, Kelleher

Sponsored: Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Matip, Williams, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Tsimikas

Centrocampisti: Fabinho, Thiago, Milner, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Elliott, Arthur

Attaccanti: Diaz, Firmino, Salah, Gakpo, Jota, Nunez, Carvalho