A swashbuckling performance gave Liverpool a much-needed win on the road and condemned Leeds to their second successive heavy home defeat.
The Reds ran out 6-1 winners on Monday, with Mohamed Salah looking back to his best and scoring twice to finish a pair of well-executed counter attacks. But it was mostly possessional dominance from Jurgen Klopp 's team, who took the lead through Cody Gakpo's controversial goal 10 minutes before the break.
Salah soon doubled their advantage before Luis Sinisterra capitalised on an Ibrahima Konate error, making it 2-1 early in the second half. Unlike in most of their Premier League away games this season, though, Liverpool produced a positive response, with Diogo Jota ending his 33-game goal drought with a double of his own, Salah bagging a second and Darwin Nunez stroking home for six.
It was only the Reds' fourth win in 16 league games on the road this term, boosting their hopes of a late surge into the top four. As for Leeds, they failed to respond to their 5-1 spanking at home to Crystal Palace last Sunday, with relegation remaining a real threat.
Here are seven talking points from Elland Road.
Alexander-Arnold's quarterback role
For many years as they vied against one another for the Premier League title, it felt as if Liverpool's strength was being starkly different to Manchester City. Now, though, as the Reds aim to climb back towards the top of world football after a wretched campaign, Jurgen Klopp has begun to imitate one of Pep Guardiola's tactical hallmarks.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspects of City's play is how their full-backs are so adept at stepping into a central midfield role and playing a key role in build-up. Against Arsenal last weekend, Trent Alexander-Arnold did just that, and at Elland Road he was often seen joining Fabinho in the first line of Liverpool's midfield and spraying passing forward like an NFL quarterback.
Gakpo goal leaves us guessing
From a purist's point of view, it'd have been nice to focus the conversation on Liverpool's first goal around how Alexander-Arnold's new position was the catalyst. Instead, it was how the Reds 'right-back' got away with using his arm in the build-up when he closed down Junior Firpo's attempted pass upfield in the 35th minute.
Like how Declan Rice wasn't penalised in the lead-up to West Ham's first goal at home to Arsenal on Sunday, a VAR check didn't punish Alexander-Arnold - even though he appeared to move his arm towards the ball. Fans were left baffled by the decision and it proved to be a huge turning point in the game, as within four minutes it was 2-0 through Mohamed Salah, converting only Liverpool's second shot on target after a swift counter attack.
Salah's latest record
The Premier League has seen some iconic left-footed players across its 31 seasons. Ryan Giggs, Gareth Bale and David Silva can all argue that they're the best but for Mohamed Salah, he can now say that he scored more than any of them with his preferred foot.
Bagging his 106th strike with his left foot - before later making it 107 - the Egyptian king of Anfield earned himself another record for the history books. It's not quite the most Premier League goals in a 38-game season - a feat which only he'd managed until City's Erling Haaland recently matched him - but it is a reminder that Salah is one of the true greats.
Konate's calamity
2-0 up away from home - not the kind of scoreline which Liverpool fans have been able to enjoy much this season. Unfortunately for them, their satisfaction didn't even last half an hour of real time as Konate gifted Leeds a goal back within three minutes of the restart.
Taking a sloppy touch with only goalkeeper Alisson Becker behind him, the French centre-back was closed down by Colombian winger Luis Sinisterra, who calmly soared towards goal. Suddenly, it was game on.
Jota ends his drought
Heading over to Yorkshire, Diogo Jota was enduring a barren run of 33 games without a goal. Having suffered an injury last autumn which ruled him out of the World Cup, the Portuguese forward has struggled to return to his usual levels of brilliance.
So, what better time to get on the scoresheet than five minutes after Konate had gifted Leeds a route back into the game? Profitting from a pinpoint Curtis Jones pass, Jota executed a superb first-time finish past the onrushing Illan Meslier to make it 3-1 prior to Salah's coolly-taken second.
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Gracia faces boos as familiar task arises
It's deja vu for Leeds. After 31 Premier League games, they've got 29 points and are under their second manager of the season - just like last year with Jesse Marsch. Javi Gracia has now suffered back-to-back 5-1 and 6-1 losses on home soil, and the Spaniard needs to find an answer to their defensive woes soon.
Although they're currently two points clear of the relegation zone, their goal difference took a huge hit as Liverpool ran riot and Jota made it five in the 73rd minute to prompt boos and exits around Elland Road - and that was before Darwin Nunez got in on the act with the Reds' sixth. What won't help is a late injury to Sinisterra, who went down in pain after taking a wayward shot.
It was a scene that summed up the night for a Leeds side skirting dangerously close to the drop.
Diaz delights Reds with return
In yet another reason to smile for Liverpool fans, they saw Luis Diaz in action for the first time in six months as he came off the bench in the dying embers. It was in their dramatic 3-2 loss at Arsenal when the Reds star hobbled off with what turned out to be a serious knee injury and he's endured a painstaking period of rehabilitation.
But now Diaz can start to search for the kind of form which made him such a plus for Klopp this time last year, with his pace and eye for goal often an unstoppable combination. Joining him as a late substitute was Thiago Alcantara, another man who's on his way back to full fitness and the Reds look to finish the campaign on a high.
