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Leeds 1-6 Liverpool: Reds Player performace Ratings

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8 months ago

April 17, 2023

Liverpool cruised to an emphatic 6-1 win at Leeds, with Mohamed Salah in brilliant goalscoring form and Diogo Jota ending a years-long losing streak.

Leeds 1-6 Liverpool

Goals: Gakpo 35′, Salah 39′ & 64′, Jota 52′ & 73′, Nunez 89′; Sinister 47′

Alisson (out of 10) – 7

Alisson has been called up so many times this season to save Liverpool’s blush, but he had the luxury of being a spectator for much of the game.

The Brazilian barely had anything to do in the first half and after the break he couldn’t do much against Luis Sinisterra’s goal.

Fittingly, his teammates were left out for not getting close enough to Brenden Aaronson when he hit the bar – that’s about as lively as he got!

Trent Alexander Arnold – 8

Alexander-Arnold has once again been deployed more in a traveling midfield role (reverse full-back say the hipsters), with Jurgen Klopp fine-tuning his position recently.

The 24-year-old endured an impressive night at Elland Road, scoring the first goal for Cody Gakpo and sixth for Darwin Nunez and generally showing his quality on the ball. A fine back pass to Mohamed Salah summed up what an outrageous passer Trent is.

Ibrahima Konate – 6

Konaté was sensational in the second half against Arsenal last time out and although it was less of a test for him, he was solid overall.

Poor focus caused him to mark Sinisterra which cost him a point, but otherwise he was a physically dominant character.

It will be a world class day. Just need to improve his concentration.

Virgil van Dyke – 7

Like Konate, Van Dijk will be subjected to much better testing, but he really can’t be faulted and has proven to be particularly dominant in the air.

The Dutchman’s long-range passing hasn’t always been at his best, but this was convincing evidence that Liverpool will need to watch week after week from now on.

Andy Robertson-8

Robertson has been the least guilty of Liverpool defenders this season, although it certainly wasn’t a vintage season on his part.

Here though he was very good, playing deep enough to perhaps compensate for Trent who played in midfield and performed his defensive duties well.

He did brilliantly for Salah’s second of the night, ran forward and clipped the ball to Cody Gakpo.

Fabinho-7

We are still a long way from yesterday’s Fabinho, but luckily his form has improved in recent weeks.

He has done well in midfield for the Reds, although he still looks a meter slower than before, and has used the ball intelligently.

Jordan Henderson-7

Henderson has been a shadow of his former self so many times this season, but this was a positive night for him.

Sure, he was too limited on the ball at times and went for the easy option, but he covered Trent well down the right and made some effective overlap runs.

An excellent pass from Jota saw his colleague try wide.

Curtis Jones 7

Jones has been criticized for not influencing matches enough, but he was better against Leeds.

The midfielder lost possession a couple of times but he deserves credit for regaining it and produced a fine pass for Jota’s first goal.

Nothing special, but maybe just doing the job Klopp asks of him.

Mohamed Salah – 9 (Man of the match)

Salah is a driven figure and his penalty miss last weekend must have hurt, so a reaction from him at Elland Road was expected.

It was no surprise, then, that he buried two brutal finishes to hide Liverpool: his eighth and ninth goals in six Premier League appearances against Leeds. He’s been a threat to the Leeds defense all night – that’s now 26 goals for the season, not bad for a player having a ‘bad’ campaign!

Cody Gakpo – 8

Gakpo has been quiet lately after not continuing after his home brace against Man United, but he was much better on Monday night.

The Dutchman scored the game’s first goal – his first in five league appearances – and he used the ball subtly, much like Roberto Firmino.

He also got an assist for Salah and showed good composure in a tight area.

Diogo Jota – 8

What do they say about London buses?

Jota has kept his place despite lackluster form lately and although his first half hour was poor and he continued to lose possession, he improved a lot from there. The Liverpool No.20 provided the assist for Salah’s opener and then finally ended his losing streak by scoring twice in a row.

Confidence is a wild thing.

Substitute

Luis Diaz (for Gakpo, 81′) – n/a

Seeing him back on the pitch is almost as good as the 5-1 win itself!

Darwin Nunez (for Salah, 81′) – n/a

Expertly caught his target after being dispatched cleanly.

James Milner (for Henderson, ’81) – n/a

Almost fired a cross into the top corner against his ex-club.

Roberto Firmino (for iota, 81′) – n/a

A nice turn of events, but the game was over when he arrived. Thiago (for Fabinho, 85′) – n/a

I’ve tried temporary magic, with mixed results!

Unused Subs: Kelleher, Matip, Tsimikas, Elliott

Jürgen Klopp – 9

After a fiery comeback at home against Arsenal, it was time for the Reds to take on Leeds, with Klopp trying to avoid a six-game losing streak.

They did so with insistence and ruthlessness, scoring two quick goals before half-time and increasing the lead after the break.

Placing Trent in this new role ultimately paid off, as did the decision to create Jota. So it was a great evening for the director.

He really needed this and it keeps Liverpool’s (extremely) slim hopes of finishing in the top four alive.

A fully fit squad, confidence returning for some key players, now to put a run together in this final eight games of the season.

Also..

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′)