Mohamed Salah made a triumphant return for Liverpool as he scored in their commanding 4-1 victory over Brentford, further bolstering the Premier League leaders’ pursuit of the title on Saturday.
Salah, coming off the bench to replace the injured Diogo Jota, marked his first appearance for Liverpool since their win against Newcastle on New Year’s Day with a goal. The 31-year-old’s 19th goal in all competitions this season propelled Liverpool towards their sixth win in the last seven league games.
Darwin Nunez opened the scoring for Liverpool with a sublime chip just before halftime, followed by Alexis Mac Allister extending their lead early in the second half. Although Ivan Toney pulled one back for Brentford, Cody Gakpo sealed the victory for Liverpool with a late goal.
Despite the valuable win, Liverpool suffered setbacks with injuries to Jota and Curtis Jones in the first half, adding to their growing list of sidelined players. With the League Cup final against Chelsea looming and Liverpool competing in multiple competitions, the injuries could pose a challenge to Jurgen Klopp’s ambitions for the season.
Conor Bradley, returning from compassionate leave, impressed as he started at right-back in place of the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool showcased their attacking prowess, with Nunez’s goal exemplifying their offensive capabilities. Salah, who initially missed opportunities upon his introduction, redeemed himself with a well-placed pass to set up Mac Allister’s goal before scoring one himself.
While Toney managed to score a consolation goal for Brentford, Liverpool had the last laugh with Gakpo capitalizing on a defensive error to secure the win.
With Manchester City and Arsenal trailing closely behind, Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table remains at five points as they continue their quest for their first title since 2020. Liverpool’s performance against Brentford confirms their status as serious contenders for the Premier League crown, despite the challenges posed by injuries.
Reported By AFP.
