Leeds United suffered a humiliating 6-1 defeat at home to Liverpool on Monday night, as the visitors ran riot at Elland Road. The Reds scored four goals in the second half to seal their biggest win of the season and pile more misery on the struggling hosts.
Liverpool took the lead in the 12th minute, when Mohamed Salah converted a penalty after Rasmus Kristensen fouled Cody Gakpo in the box. The Egyptian doubled his tally in the 28th minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack with a low shot past Illan Meslier.
Leeds pulled one back in the 37th minute, when Luis Sinisterra headed in a cross from Jack Harrison. The Colombian striker was one of the few bright spots for Leeds, who were otherwise outplayed and outclassed by Liverpool.
The second half was a nightmare for Leeds, who conceded four more goals and had no answer to Liverpool's relentless pressure. Diogo Jota scored twice, in the 51st and 73rd minute, to make it 4-1 and 5-1 respectively. The Portuguese forward showed his clinical finishing and linked up well with his teammates.
Cody Gakpo added a fifth in the 78th minute, tapping in a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Dutch winger was another standout performer for Liverpool, who were dominant on both flanks. Darwin Nunez completed the rout in the 90th minute, scoring with his first touch after coming on as a substitute.
The final whistle was a relief for Leeds, who were booed off by their own fans. The hosts had only 25% possession and seven shots on goal, compared to Liverpool's nine and 25 respectively. Leeds also committed 12 fouls and received one yellow card, while Liverpool were disciplined and composed throughout.
The result leaves Leeds in 16th place, with 29 points from 31 games. They are only two points above the relegation zone, and face a tough run of fixtures ahead. They will need to improve their defence and their confidence if they want to avoid the drop.
Liverpool, on the other hand, move up to eighth place, with 47 points from 29 games. They are still 12 points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, but have two games in hand. They will hope to build on this performance and finish the season strongly.
This was a night to forget for Leeds United, and a night to remember for Liverpool. The hosts were humbled by their rivals, who showed their quality and ruthlessness. It was a display of contrasting fortunes and emotions, as Leeds vs Liverpool ended 6-1.
