If a rest is as good as a change, Liverpool made sure their eight-day break helped transform the away-day fortunes here at Leeds.
The Reds' entire campaign has been undercut by their performances on the road and just 13 points from 15 games prior to Monday night is the primary reason they have little left to play for in the closing weeks.
All too often a brittle, confidence-shot team has wilted when outside the cosy confines of Anfield but this was a big step in the right direction here. Rather than allow Elland Road to build up the sort of cauldron-like atmosphere that Liverpool no longer relish, they instead handled this tricky assignment with the sort of professionalism of a bygone season under Jurgen Klopp.
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They are unlikely to come against teams as poor as Leeds every week but this was impressive in its own right and for all the problems that have engulfed Klopp's side, this was further evidence that they can still devastate when the wind is in their sails. File this alongside Bournemouth and Manchester United at home and Rangers and Ajax away in the Champions League.
That this convincing 6-1 win is only their fourth highest margin of victory in all competitions is indicative of a team that can still smell blood. But the fact that Liverpool are currently eighth in the Premier League in a season where they have won 7-0, 9-0 and now 6-1 just sums up how baffling these past eight months or so have been.
The key is to somehow unlock this swagger on a more consistent basis going forward. This was just their fourth win on their travels this term after all.
The return of Luis Diaz to a match-day squad after more than six months on the sidelines was a boost as Klopp named an unchanged team from the 11 that drew with league leaders Arsenal on Easter Sunday.
As with the second half of the draw with Arsenal, Klopp instructed Trent Alexander-Arnold to operate more as a central midfielder whenever the Reds had possession. It was an experiment that allowed him to showcase his unrivalled passing range. Two more assists for the tally.
The opening goal came via a surge from the marauding Alexander-Arnold after he had won the ball back from Junior Firpo high up the pitch. After exchanging passes with Mohamed Salah, he laid it on a plate and handed the cutlery to Cody Gakpo for his fifth Reds goal.
Liverpool benefitted from a fortunate call not to award Leeds a free-kick for handball after Alexander-Arnold charged down Firpo but after that it was all about the West Derby-born defender's composure in the final third.
The debate about where he is best suited will likely rage for the 24-year-old's entire career but having swept the board of top-level trophies already at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold is a happy conundrum for Klopp, one suspects. Here, when operating as a hybrid central midfielder, he was able to go through his full repertoire. It's clearly a potent weapon for Klopp to utilise when he knows his team will enjoy the lion's share of the ball.
There will be more taxing examinations ahead if this tactical twist is here to stay but this was an excellent interpretation of a complex role from Alexander-Arnold.
It was 2-0 moments later when Diogo Jota carried it the length of the Leeds half before laying in Salah who dispatched it, first time, past Ilan Meslier for his 25th goal of the season.
Much has been made of the Egyptian's supposedly less-than-stellar campaign but the Reds star would be nearing another 30-goal season had he stuck those penalties away against Bournemouth and Arsenal. With eight games left to play, you wouldn't bet against Salah, the club's all-time Premier League marksman, registering a minimum of 30 for the fourth time.
The second half was barely two minutes old when Ibrahima Konate was caught in possession on the edge of his own box. Luis Sinsterra promptly punished the mistake and Leeds were suddenly back in the game. It was a totally avoidable goal to concede from the Reds' perspective, but so many of them have been this term.
That was the cue for the Leeds blood to run hot as Elland Road, to a man, became fired up. Clearances were closed down quicker and tackles were sharper but to Liverpool's credit, they didn't crumble. Instead, they restored their two-goal cushion within five minutes with Jota's first goal in 12 months that owed so much to a wonderful Jones pass.
Salah thought he had his second of the night after a well-worked free-kick routine but Virgil van Dijk was just offside before he supplied the assist. The No.11 didn't have to wait too much longer, however, when he slotted away a superb, sweeping move involving Jota, Andy Robertson and Gakpo that tore Leeds apart.
As Leeds started to wearily accept their fate the Reds were keeping the ball at will, knocking it about and creating a number of presentable chances. Jota had his second of the night when he struck a lovely finish, first time, past Meslier after a long spell of possession ended with Henderson hoisting a low cross to the edge of the box.
A difficult opening half hour aside it was a great night for Jota as he ended a 12-month run without a goal in style. Having been sidelined for a combined six months this term with two separate injuries, it's understandable that the former Wolves man has not been anywhere near his best, but this was a return to something resembling what he was last season when he scored 21 times. A strong end to the season is now required for him ahead of a major summer for the club itself.
That final 10 minutes saw Klopp introduce Darwin Nunez, James Milner and Roberto Firmino alongside Diaz. The roar from the away end when the No.23's name was read out said it all about how much he has been missed.
Nunez wasted little time registering his 15th goal in all competitions, finishing confidently after another sumptuous Alexander-Arnold clip over the top. Perhaps it was the very definition of 'getting in on the act' from the Uruguay international.
The away end made sure they saluted as many of their heroes as possible at full time as the likes of Nunez, Firmino and Alisson were all serenaded. It hasn't always been that way this season but this night belonged to Liverpool.
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