Salah and Jota hit braces in Liverpool’s 6-1 win at Elland Road

Liverpool got their first win in five games after thrashing Leeds United 6-2 on Monday night in the Premier League. Diogo Jota and Mohammed Salah both scored twice in the emphatic victory that once again reignited their European chances for next season.

After thrashing Manchester United 7-0 in March, Jurgen Klopp’s side suffered a shock loss to Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium before losing to Real Madrid in the second leg of their round of 16 UEFA Champions League fixture coupled with a 4-1 loss to Manchester City and two draws against London clubs Chelsea and Arsenal in the consecutive weeks.

The Reds didn’t get their first goal very early, but Coady Gakpo was on hand in the 35th minute of the first half, while Mohammed Salah would double the score four minutes later.

In the second half, Luis Sinistera pulled one back for Colombia as it looked like the hosts would do a stronger half than they did in the first. However, Liverpool turned two to three five minutes after Sinistera’s 47th-minute goal through Diogo Jota, who was scoring his first Premier League goal of the season.

The Portuguese was playing his fourteenth Premier League game of the season and ended it with a brace, but he didn’t fail to address a tough season for himself and the team at large this season.

“Some games we looked really good, and others we cannot really click, especially away from home. But that is in the past, and we have to do games like this because we can. Finally, it has been a hard season for me and for the team, and it was a great relief for me. It was a mix but good feelings. I always want to be involved. I did an assist in the first half, but I like to score more.” Jota said.

Liverpool scored a sixth on the night through substitute Darwin Nunez for a sixth goal to remain 8th on the table but stay nine points off UEFA Champions League places with a game in hand.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu