Liverpool
Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp’s reaction to his Liverpool team demonstrating an amazing drive to win the ball back in the 92nd minute was priceless. The Reds defeated Leeds 6-1 at Elland Road on Monday night, putting on the type of aggressive display that one would expect from a Klopp team.

Mo Salah and Diogo Jota both scored twice, and Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez also scored in the thrashing. But the play that Klopp praised the most wasn’t even one of the goals. It came in stoppage time, when his team, leading 6-1, pursued Leeds to retake possession.

Liverpool
Liverpool finally produced a ruthless performance in their 6-1 thrashing of Leeds United, prompting a priceless reaction from their boss, Jurgen Klopp. Credits: Twitter

Liverpool fighting for the ball in the dying minutes produces befitting Klopp reaction

Barring the goof-up Ibrahima Konate committed which led to Leeds’ only goal of the game, Liverpool played out a perfect match for the first time since thrashing Manchester United 7-0 at the Anfield. The Reds showed their desire to kill the game despite the home side getting back into it, thanks to Luis Sinisterra’s 47th minute striker which made it halved the deficit as Liverpool had raced to a 2-0 lead.

However, Klopp’s men gave no chance to Javi Gracia’s relegation threatened side to pull back into the game, as Mo Salah, Diogo Jota and the substitute Darwin Nunez added another four goals to run riot at the Elland Road. However, it was the fire in the belly of the Reds’ players that made Klopp happy and produced a brilliant reaction from him when his men fought for the ball even in the last minute of the game.

Georginio Rutter had the ball in the middle of the pitch, but he was surrounded by four Liverpool players who pressured and tormented him before grabbing the ball and spearheading another counter-attack. The cameras panned to Klopp on the bench, who was in awe of his men’s work rate and tenacity. He yelled, “OH MY GOD!” several times as he sagged lower into his chair before leaping out and cheering.

This season, Klopp’s team has destroyed Bournemouth 9-0 and Manchester United 7-0, but the German believes the performance at Elland Road was their greatest. Speaking after the game, the German told Sky Sports:

“I am really happy about that game. I think we forced a lot of errors, [scored] sensational goals, counter-pressing-wise it was the best for, I want to say, decades. My favourite part was in the 92nd minute – four players chased the poor boy on the ball from Leeds. I think it is the best game we played this season, in different aspects.”

Liverpool have had a difficult season, as evident by their eighth-place sitting in the table despite Monday’s stunning victory. They are in the chase for European football next season, with a seventh-place finish likely to qualify them for some participation – but their chances of qualifying for the Champions League remain slim.

Liverpool’s win at Leeds was their first since a thrashing of Manchester United in early March, demonstrating that they maintain a rare ruthlessness even in this poor season. Next up, on Saturday (22 April), Liverpool will host the struggling Nottingham Forest. The Reds are currently nine points behind fourth-placed Newcastle United, with eight games remaining in the season.