While Arsenal and Manchester City might have both won later in the day, Liverpool ensured that it got its own job done in the early kick-off as Jürgen Klopp got one over Brentford away from home at the third time of asking. That was far from the only story from the game, though, which was dominated by injury concerns.
Goals from Darwin Núñez, Alexis Mac Allister, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo saw Liverpool pick up a 4-1 victory and while Ivan Toney got one back to make it 3-1, the Reds never really felt threatened. Caoimhín Kelleher barely saw the ball aside from making a top save before he was beaten on the follow-up.
Liverpool showed its title mettle and now must continue its winning run. Up next comes matches against Luton Town and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, with the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea in between. Klopp’s men are in a great position but now must capitalize on that and ensure that it doesn’t go to waste.
Mohamed Salah is back. Not only did he score and assist, but he also looked really sharp on the turn. There was a speed and an agility to the Egyptian that made Salah look refreshed. Kevin De Bruyne has looked noticeably rested (after a much longer spell on the sidelines) but perhaps Salah is also benefiting from a break.
He will get plenty of minutes over the course of the next few months (assuming that he stays fit). Liverpool could play a midweek fixture almost every week from here on in if things go as the Reds are hoping. Salah will want to play every second — and if the injuries elsewhere continue as they have been, he might have to.
The only thing that can stop Liverpool from going very close to a quadruple this season is injuries… but that hasn’t happened yet. Just as Salah has come back, though, Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones have picked up what could be serious problems. Núñez was withdrawn as a precaution, and the full diagnosis there remains to be seen.
That is a huge worry for the Reds. If Jota and Jones — two nailed-on starters at the moment — are set for a prolonged period out, that would create another big test. Liverpool could cope but it would be the biggest stretch yet in a season that has quietly been littered with issue after issue when it comes to absences.
