Liverpool waited all season for an opportunity to pounce on Manchester City, and finally afforded the chance, the Reds did so in a thunderous manner as they clobbered Leeds United 3-0 at Anfield.
It was a comprehensive performance from start to finish, punctuated by a pair of penalties from Premier League leading scorer Mohamed Salah, who moved his tally to 19 on the season. Joel Matip contributed the third of Liverpool’s riotous first half, assisted by none other than the aforementioned Egyptian, and Sadio Mane capped it off 10 minutes from time.
With a six-point margin between the clubs at the top of the table coming into the match, Liverpool had a chance to cut that lead in half and move to within a single game of Man City. They did more than just collect three points, issuing a rousing statement to the defending champions and league leaders. The six goals gained are important as well, pushing Liverpool to +50 goal differential, which is four more than Man City’s +46.
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Leeds, despite a bright start to the match, collapsed in calamitous fashion once the first goal went in. It was “better” in the second half, somewhat, but Liverpool was also far more comfortable at that time, and there was never a doubt through the entire 90 minutes which side was in the ascendency.
Marcelo Balsa’s side is winless in its last five matches, remaining 15th in the table, a nervy five points above the drop zone. It’s not time for…
