Liverpool banished their away day blues as Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah grabbed two goals each in an emphatic 6-1 victory at Leeds United on Monday, a record home Premier League loss at Elland Road for the struggling Yorkshire club.

Jota was on the scoresheet for the first time in over a year while Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez were also on target as Liverpool recorded only their second away win in 2023.

They move to 47 points from 30 games, nine behind Newcastle United in the fourth Champions League qualification position.

Leeds had chances in the first half but just as in their 5-1 home loss to Crystal Palace in their previous match, they were far too open defensively.

Javi Gracia’s side remains two points above the drop zone after 31 games. Leeds winger Luis Sinisterra made it 2-1 soon after the interval before Liverpool netted four more.

“It was a special second half, we played really well,” Jota told Sky Sports. “We kept possession and tried to find ourselves in good positions. We scored some great goals.

“It has been a hard season for me and the team so it is a relief for me to score. I got an assist too in the first half, but I would like to score more.”

Salah now has nine goals in six league matches against Leeds, a joint Liverpool record with Gordon Hodgson, and has moved to 26 for the season in all competitions after two clinical finishes, with his first being set up by Jota.

There was some controversy over Liverpool’s first goal from Gakpo in the 35th minute as Leeds claimed a handball from Trent Alexander-Arnold in the build-up but as the full-back was not the scorer the Video Assistant Referee did not intervene.

Manager elated

Liverpool’s show was their best performance of the season according to manager Juergen Klopp, who has not ruled out a push for a Champions League place in the final weeks of the campaign.

“I think it’s the best game we’ve played this season from all different perspectives,” Klopp said. “We forced a lot of errors, sensational goals and counter-pressing, the best game for a long time. “There were a couple of tough moments, we conceded an unnecessary goal, but these things happen.”

Liverpool have also beaten Bournemouth 9-0 in the Premier League and Rangers 7-1 in the Champions League this season, but Klopp said he will not judge his players on the number of goals they score.