KEY POINTS

  • Liverpool thrashed Leeds 6-0 at Anfield in the league
  • Joel Matip scored the second goal
  • Liverpool have now won five straight games in the Premier League

Liverpool FC defender Joel Matip made manager Jurgen Klopp break into laughter with his goal against Leeds in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Matip broke in the front line from the back, did a one-two with Mohamed Salah before scoring a goal from open play. The center-back scored Liverpool's second goal in their incredible 6-0 victory over Leeds at Anfield.

Liverpool boss Klopp totally enjoyed the exchange between Matip and Salah as he celebrated the goal with a big smile with his assistant coaches.

It was Matip's first goal of the 2021-22 season and overall, his seventh competitive goal for the Reds.

Meanwhile, Klopp compared Matip's goal to Salah's at Elland Road earlier this season.

"You might remember the goal we scored, it was Mo's goal after Trent's cross at Leeds. It was a very similar situation. The way Leeds defend, it gives, especially Joel on that right side, the chance and it is a duty then to step in, to make yards. There will always be the block and you have to find a way to keep the game going and he did that this time with a pass to the outside and then followed through, which is absolutely great. Then he finished it off," Klopp said in the post-match conference, according to Liverpool's website.

"It's not possible in all games – and not needed in all games – but against Leeds it's possible and against Leeds, it's needed as well. He did that very well and got the full reward for it. I am really happy for him," the German boss added.

Taking the strain: Liverpool defender Joel Matip (centre) became the latest Premier League player to suffer a muscle injury in Sunday's 1-1 draw with West Brom
Joel Matip (centre) now has 7 competitive goals for Liverpool POOL / STU FORSTER

Premier League: 5 straight wins for Liverpool

With Thursday's victory, second-placed Liverpool are now just three points behind leaders Manchester City in the title race. The Reds now have claimed five straight wins in the Premier League. Klopp's side has not suffered a loss in as many as 11 matches, across competitions.

Five goals out of the six against Leeds were scored by African players for Liverpool. Apart from Cameroon center-back Matip, "Egyptian King" Salah scored two goals from the spot and Senegal national Sadio Mane netted a brace. Dutchman Virgil van Dijk headed the final goal to make it 6-0 for Liverpool.

With their latest victory, the Anfield side also bettered their goal difference – 50, four more than Pep Guardiola's City.

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