Liverpool 6-0 Leeds United
As Premier League score lines go, I think this was the least surprising result of the season.
For this was as predictable as it comes.
That is because, for all the praise lavished upon Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United’s style of play last season, there appears no Plan B – certainly no alternative format of how to regroup when under the cosh.
Yes, the Yorkshire club have been hit hard by injuries this season, but the refusal to shut up shop when necessary has gone against them in a big way this term, so much so that speculation increases that the Argentinian-Leeds partnership will cease this summer; that ‘Bielsa-ball’ has run its course.
These self-inflicted Premier League highlights for Liverpool suggest it may well be the best way forward for the club which has, already shipped five goals at Old Trafford and seven at the Etihad in 2021/22.
Going toe-to-toe with the leading sides is laudable it really is but there are times when circumstances dictate that it is foolish and naïve – this was another such occasion.
Highlights of the game
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds always favoured the Merseysiders as they closed at the gap on leaders Manchester City to three points but this was made easy for them as Leeds, as I predicted, played exactly how the opposition anticipated – too openly.
Less than a quarter of an hour had passed when Stuart Dallas blocked an Andy Robertson cross with his hands and Mo Salah converted the penalty.
In a rare attack, Raphinha was denied an equaliser by the offside flag as he stabbed the ball in following a fine break by Jack Harrison.
You can guess what happened next.
Liverpool simply went straight up the other end of the pitch and added a second as Joel Matip was given the freedom of Anfield to start and finish a move as he dinked the ball past Illan Meslier.
Two soon became three as Leeds once more Leeds played into the hands of their opponents when Luke Ayling brought down Sadio Mane inside the box and Salah again made no mistake from 12 yards with a clinical finish into the top corner.
It could well have been worse for Leeds before the break as Brazilian midfielder Fabinho could and should have scored and defender Junior Firpo hooked off the line to deny Salah a first half hat-trick.
Bielsa brought on Jamie Shackleton and Tyler Roberts for club record signing Rodrigo and Mateusz Klich at the break.
Yet never mind the injured quartet of Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper, Leo Hjelde and Kalvin Phillips, Bielsa could have introduced Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe but it wouldn’t have made a difference for the naïve visitors in this set-up.
Salah, top scorer in the top flight and my tip for footballer of the year, was chasing a hat-trick and the one-way traffic continued with Meslier keeping out further efforts to prevent a rout.
Perhaps knowing his team are in action again in less than 72 hours prompted Bielsa to replace frontman Dan James with teenager Joe Gelhardt. Either way, it was a change which suggested the manager knew the contest was over and Mane added a fourth with nine minutes remaining and a fifth in stoppage time for good measure.
Even Virgil van Dijk had time to add a sixth as Leeds capitulated.
The worst news for the Leeds faithful was yet to come as it emerged Burnley had beaten Spurs to climb within five points with two games in hand.
That, coupled with the fact Leeds have now let in 55 top-flight goals so far this season (two more than in the entirety of 2020-21) tells its own story.
Many more performances like this and the ‘R word may start to be uttered in the same sentence as Leeds United Football Club. They need to act quickly.
Key statistics
Liverpool have been awarded 170 penalties in the history of the Premier League, more than any other side.
Liverpool have won nine consecutive matches in all competitions, including each of their last six in the Premier League.
They are unbeaten in 17 Premier League home games since March, winning the last eight in a row by an aggregate score of 26-2.
Salah has recorded 19 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League in 2021-22.
Leeds have lost seven of their past 10 Premier League fixtures, earning just seven points during that period.
They have also conceded at least three goals in four successive league games for the first time since March 1960.
What’s next?
Liverpool meet Chelsea in the League Cup Final on Sunday (February 27) and then entertain Norwich City in the fifth round of the FA Cup a week tonight (March 2).
For Leeds, Spurs await at Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime.
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