Liverpool back on track with crucial 3-0 Premier League win over Brentford

LONDON – Liverpool bounced back from two winless games to clinch a vital 3-0 English Premier League win over Brentford at Anfield on Sunday, thanks to a brace from talisman Mohamed Salah.

The Reds had salvaged a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Luton Town in the league the previous weekend, before a shock 3-2 loss to French side Toulouse in the Champions League in midweek.

This victory is a crucial morale boost as Jurgen Klopp’s men got back to winning ways again.

“Yeah, always nice to be back at Anfield and to get a win. It was important to leave with the three points,” said Diogo Jota, who scored the third goal.

“We need to keep winning to be able to be in that title fight towards the end. It is a long road.

“You never know. It’s still early days and people are fighting for their clubs. That’s what we like to see. Hopefully we are there at the end.”

Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, as Darwin Nunez teed up Salah inside the box for the Egyptian forward to roll the ball into the bottom left corner.

Nunez was up for it the entire half, with two goals scored by the Uruguayan striker disallowed for offside in the 22nd and 27th minutes before his assist.

According to Opta statistics, all seven of his Premier League assists have come for Salah, which is only the third instance that a player’s first seven league assists were for the same teammate.

The other two were Kevin Campbell for Ian Wright (10) and Troy Deeney for Odion Ighalo (seven).

Salah had a chance to make it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time – he took a shot again from inside the area after picking up a lofted pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, but the ball flew just over the bar.

Brentford came out of the break hoping to snatch an early equaliser, and they nearly achieved that in the 50th minute.

Mathias Jensen’s free kick was on target but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was alert enough to tip the ball over for a corner kick.

There was a VAR (video assistant referee) scare for the Reds just six minutes later, as a check was made for a potential red card for Wataru Endo after he clashed with Christian Norgaard.

Thankfully for Klopp and his team, the Japanese midfielder escaped punishment.

Salah then made it two for Liverpool in the 62nd minute when he received the ball from Konstantinos Tsimikas and scored with an easy header into an empty net.

It was his 10th Premier League goal in 12 games this season.

On Salah’s consistency, Jota added: “He is always there, is a goal threat, creates chances and is really important for us. Congratulations to him on his 200th goal (in English football).”

Klopp scored in each half to reach 200 goals in English football - 198 for Liverpool and two for Chelsea - and became the first player ever to score in each of Liverpool's first six home games of the season.

"Crazy," Klopp said marvelling about Salah, who Liverpool reportedly received a 150 million pounds (S$249.42  million) bid for from Al-Ittihad in the last transfer window.

"Goal No 200 in England, right? Exceptional, played a super game today," Klopp added. "Two players always around him, he kept the ball.

"We had so many good moments first half. "(The) composure for the first goal is insane. No doubt in that area, you see it on the scoresheet. Special player."

Liverpool have yet to lose at their Anfield fortress this season in all competitions, winning their sixth successive league game there on Sunday.

But while Klopp was thrilled with the performance he had strong words for the schedulers who have pencilled in their next game against leaders Manchester City as a 12:30 p.m. kick-off at the Etihad on Nov 25, right after the international break.

"How can you put the Man City game on at 12:30?" he asked reporters after the game. "These people don't know football.

"There could be a moment when these two teams have 30 international players, we pick up the South Americans on one plane to arrive here."

Klopp was happy with his team's bounce-back after their 3-2 loss at Toulouse in the Europa League group stage on Thursday.

"I'm very pleased to use that opportunity ... to lose against Toulouse and then react in the way we did today," he said.

Brentford could not find a way back into the game and Jota made sure of the three points 16 minutes from the final whistle when he shot straight into the right side of the goal from a Tsimikas short pass.

The Bees had an opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 78th minute, when Ethan Pinnock headed towards the top right corner from a corner, but again Alisson pulled off a great save.

Liverpool will head into the international break in better spirits after the win, before they prepare for their trip to the Etihad to face Manchester City on Nov 25. REUTERS