Liverpool snapping at City's heels after thrashing Leeds

Liverpool hasn't been this close to Manchester City since Christmas Day.

The gap is now down to three points in the Premier League title race－which once looked heavily in favor of City－after Liverpool demolished Leeds United 6-0 on Wednesday.

Mo Salah, naturally, inflicted most of the damage by scoring two goals from the penalty spot and playing a part in two more. Sadio Mane also scored twice.

Liverpool has finally caught up to City in matches－they've both played 26 in the 38-game season－and nearly on points.

With Liverpool still to visit City's Etihad Stadium on April 10, there's little to choose between the top two－the last two winners of English soccer's biggest prize.

At one stage in the middle of January, City held a 13-point lead, though Liverpool always had games in hand and just needed to keep in sight of the defending champion.

On a run of six straight victories, Jurgen Klopp's team has done just that and looks in prime shape heading into Sunday's League Cup final against Chelsea.

"I think for people outside, it is better to have a three- or six-point gap than to have a 20- or 30-point gap so it is more exciting," Klopp said of the title race, "but we have to win a lot of the games against all the difficult opponents and that will be a tricky task.

"We will give it a try."

Salah's league-high goal total is up to 19 after being gifted two penalty chances by Leeds' frail defense that has now conceded 16 goals in the team's last four games.

Stuart Dallas blocked Andrew Robertson's cross with his hand to give away the first spot-kick that was dispatched by Salah in the 15th minute.

Salah slipped in Joel Matip, marauding forward from the center of defense, for the second goal in the 30th and then converted a second penalty five minutes later after Luke Ayling tripped Mane, who was bearing down on goal.

Mane added two late goals while there was also time for Virgil van Dijk to head home a corner in the third minute of stoppage time.

"It can happen, but I didn't expect it," Klopp said of the big win. "It's really difficult to defend man-marking against us for 90 minutes.

"You cannot defend Mo Salah in all challenges of a game. That is the problem Leeds has and that is why the result is the result."

At the other end of the table, Leeds is looking over its shoulder as Burnley's 1-0 win over Tottenham cut its cushion over the relegation zone down to three points.

"We are fighting relegation," said Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa. "Of course it worries me, how is it not going to?"

Leeds has now conceded the most goals in the Premier League this season with 56.

Bielsa's men were similarly humiliated 7-0 at City in December and have shipped 16 goals in their last four games alone.

"The games against City and today are two games where our weaknesses have shown against the superiority of these teams," added Bielsa.

"The conclusions from today are totally negative."

Tottenham followed up a stunning win at City on Saturday with a 1-0 loss at next-to-last Burnley four days later in a result that shakes up the relegation fight.

Ben Mee headed home a freekick in the 71st minute to earn Burnley a second straight win that moved the Clarets up one place to 18th and to within two points of safety.

Burnley also has games in hand over most teams near the bottom.

Replacing Burnley in 19th spot was Watford, which lost 4-1 at home to Crystal Palace in an unhappy reunion for ex-Palace boss Roy Hodgson, now in charge of the struggling Hornets. Wilfried Zaha netted twice for Palace.

Leeds is in 15th place and has slipped to within three points of the relegation zone. The bottom seven teams are separated by seven points.

Agencies