- Liverpool regained a five-point lead over Manchester City for at least a few hours with a comfortable victory at Brentford.
- Nunez fired a stylish shot past the goalkeeper to give Liverpool the lead before Mac Allister, Salah and Gakpo scored.
- Liverpool must be ruthless: Jurgen Klopp must maintain a two-point lead until the title clash against Manchester City. Podcast Everything is beginning
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Liverpool restored their five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League and set up an impressive title run with a resounding 4-1 win at Brentford.
City have a chance to respond when they face Chelsea at teatime, but Jurgen Klopp’s side were in the mood when they went on a rampage at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Darwin Nunez was clearly played by Diogo Jota and finished off a sublime lob from Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken to break the deadlock 10 minutes before half-time.
Alexis Mac Allister deflected a Mohamed Salah cross to double Liverpool’s lead just after the break, before the Egyptian, on his return from a hamstring injury suffered at the African Cup of Nations, added the third.
Ivan Toney, scoring for the fourth time in five games since his return from a betting ban, offered brief hope of a Brentford comeback before Cody Gakpo slammed the door and broke through to score the fourth.
Full report below.
Jurgen Klopp celebrates after Liverpool won 4-1 at Brentford to regain a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top.
Darwin Núñez hits the perfect lob to beat Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken and give Liverpool the lead in the first half.
Consummate shot from the Uruguayan that a ball from Diogo Jota finished cleanly on goal to score
Núñez is congratulated by Alexis Mac Allister (left) and Virgil van Dijk (centre) after opening the scoring in west London.
Alexis Mac Allister scores Liverpool’s second goal of the game in the 55th minute and was well placed to convert Salah’s ball.
The Argentine thanks Salah for the assist and Liverpool doubled their lead and left Brentford with a mountain to climb.
Mac Allister celebrates with Virgil van Dijk after Liverpool found the net for the second time 10 minutes after the break.
Mohamed Salah added Liverpool’s third goal in the 68th minute, as the Egyptian striker marked his return from a hamstring injury.
Salah jumps for joy in front of the traveling Liverpool fans at the Gtech Community Stadium after scoring three to zero.
Salah marked his return by finding the net after not playing for Liverpool since January 1, before the African Cup of Nations.
Ivan Toney responded for Brentford, offering a brief hope of a counter-attack, before Liverpool finished them off with a fourth goal.
Toney celebrates his fourth goal in five games since returning from his betting ban, but Brentford were beaten here.
Cody Gakpo ended all hope of a Brentford revival when he broke away before coolly finishing Flekken to a 4-1 lead.
The fourth goal completed an impressive afternoon of work for Jurgen Klopp’s team as they won comfortably in west London.
The in-form Diogo Jota was left feeling uncomfortable after Brentford’s Christian Norgaard fell on his knee and he was forced off.
Curtis Jones was also forced off early in the match against Brentford with an apparent ankle injury in another injury blow.