Football Match: Liverpool thrashed Leeds 6-0 to cut the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester City to three points, while Tottenham manager Antonio Conte sought talks about his future after his side’s top-four ambition was shattered by a 1-0 loss at Burnley on Wednesday. Jurgen Klopp believes his team must win every game for the rest of the season if they are to beat City to the Premier League championship.
On Liverpool’s current run, that ambitious aim isn’t out of the question, as Leeds were no match for the championship contenders at Anfield.
Following a Joel Matip goal, Mohamed Salah scored twice from the penalty spot.
In the second half, Sadio Mane scored twice, and Virgil Van Dijk completed the thrashing.
Liverpool has won their past nine games in all competitions, with this victory over City being the most meaningful.
Just a few weeks ago, City led Liverpool by 12 points, but that lead has been quickly eaten away by a mix of the Reds’ hot streak and a number of blunders from the champs.
With 12 games remaining, the scenario is set for a titanic duel between City and Liverpool, who are vying for their fourth English title in five seasons and their second in the previous three.
“It is three points until the weekend and then City will probably win and then it will be six points. If we win all our games pretty much there will be a chance for us,” Klopp said.
Despite the League Cup final against Chelsea looming on Sunday, Klopp has made five changes from the win against Norwich, including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
When Liverpool took the lead in the 15th minute, Robertson was involved.
Stuart Dallas, a Leeds defender, was found to have blocked Scot’s cross with his arm, resulting in a penalty, which Salah calmly converted for his 26th club goal of the season.
Matip, a Cameroonian defender, moved from the back and swapped passes with Salah before dinking an excellent finish past Illan Meslier in the 30th minute, his first goal since December 2020.
Salah scored his second goal of the night five minutes later after Luke Ayling conceded a penalty for a foul on Mane.
Mane scored from close range in stoppage time after making no mistake from Jordan Henderson’s feed in the 80th minute.
Liverpool’s biggest win this season was concluded by Van Dijk’s header.
Leeds have lost seven of their last ten league games and are just three points clear of the drop zone.
Tottenham reverted to the kind of inconsistent display that has irritated their fans so often in previous seasons on a rainy and windy night at Turf Moor.
Conte’s team were broken in the 71st minute when Ben Mee met Josh Brownhill’s free-kick with a far-post header past Hugo Lloris, just days after their epic 3-2 win at Manchester City.
Spurs are still in eighth place, seven points behind the top four, and their chances of qualifying for the Champions League are dwindling.
“I came here to try to improve the situation but maybe at this moment I’m not so good,” Conte said.
“We will see how the situation is and make an assessment. I’m open to every decision because I want to help Tottenham.
“I’m too honest to close my eyes and continue in this way, and also take my salary, it’s not right at this moment.”
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