Liverpool secured their first victory in the last five matches of the English Premier League with a resounding 6-1 triumph over Leeds on Monday.
Liverpool hadn't tasted victory in more than six weeks, since routing Manchester United 7-0.
But after Cody Gakpo's opener and Mohamed Salah's quickfire addition for a 2-0 halftime lead, Liverpool tore apart Leeds in the second half. Salah and Diogo Jota finished with a pair each, and Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score late.
Leeds halved the deficit two minutes after the break when Ibrahima Konate was caught in possession by Luis Sinisterra, who lifted his effort over goalkeeper Alisson to make it 2-1.
But the Leeds defense collapsed in familiar fashion, suffering consecutive heavy home defeats eight days after losing to Crystal Palace 5-1.
Liverpool remained eighth in the standings, two points behind Brighton. Leeds' survival hopes were dealt another big blow by staying 16th, two points above the drop zone.
Liverpool went ahead in the 34th minute in controversial fashion. Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to use his arm to control the ball when dispossessing Junior Firpo. But referee Craig Pawson allowed play to continue and there was no VAR intervention after Alexander-Arnold received a return pass from Salah before crossing low for Gakpo to turn home.
There was nothing controversial about the visitors’ second goal. Jota robbed Weston McKennie in midfield and slipped in Salah, who smashed a left-footed finish into the top corner from the left edge of the penalty area.
The visitors had struck twice in four minutes from their first two chances to assume full control by halftime.
Leeds then hauled themselves back two minutes after the restart. Ibrahima Konate was caught in possession by Sinisterra and the Colombian showed strength and composure to dink a neat finish over Alisson.
But Liverpool restored the two-goal lead five minutes later. Jota raced on to Curtis Jones’ defense-splitting pass and curled a first-time shot beyond Illan Meslier.
Leeds struck a post through Brenden Aaronson’s long-range effort and Salah had an effort ruled out for offside after a VAR check before Liverpool put the result beyond doubt in the 64th.
Andrew Robertson's cross was helped on by Gakpo and the unmarked Salah converted his 15th league goal at the far post.
Liverpool rubberstamped its superiority with a fifth goal through Jota’s scuffed finish from Jordan Henderson’s cross in the 73rd.
The rout was completed in the final minute, with substitute Nunez's clinical finish from Alexander-Arnold's pass ruled onside by VAR.
