By Joe Bernstein for The Mail on Sunday
19:23 06 May 2023, up to date 20:40 06 May 2023
- Liverpool received their sixth Premier League recreation in a row on Saturday as they beat Brentford 1-0 at Anfield
- Mohamed Salah scored the one purpose, his 100th at Anfield and 30th of the season, with a close-range effort
- The Bees seemed to have gone stage by way of Bryan Mbeumo after 39 minutes , nevertheless it was dominated out for offside
On an emotive day at Anfield through which the house assist loudly booed the nationwide anthem performed for Charles III’s coronation, The Kop have been capable of signal the praises of their very own Egyptian King, Mo Salah.
Liverpool followers made their controversial option to boo God Save the King at ear-splitting quantity earlier than kick-off, when in addition they launched into a robust rendition of their very own signature tune, You’ll Never Walk Alone.
It was virtually a aid to the senses when Anthony Taylor blew his whistle to start out the soccer match and Salah offered the successful intervention after solely 13 minutes to interrupt all kinds of private data and milestones.
Converting Virgil van Dijk’s header throughout purpose from shut vary, Salah grew to become the primary Liverpool participant in historical past to attain in 9 consecutive video games at dwelling, additionally reaching his Century in whole at Anfield.
In addition, it meant he’d reached 30 targets in a season for the fourth time since becoming a member of from Roma in 2017 and joined Steven Gerrard in fifth place on the all-time scorer’s listing, on 186.
Addressing the followers’ response to the nationwide anthem, which the membership had been requested to play by the Premier League, a considerate Klopp stated:
‘First and foremost, at the moment was an enormous day for England and I respect that quite a bit. Everybody desires to be comfortable about it and have a good time. Not every thing is best than up to now, however thank God we now have the liberty of free speech and freedom of opinion.
‘It was clear one thing like this might occur, everyone knew it. That is okay, nothing else occurred, there have been no chants.
‘The folks confirmed, I don’t precisely know what it was, however they weren’t all the time comfortable up to now with the way in which Liverpool, the membership and town, have been handled. That is it.
Today is for all the opposite individuals who liked the day, I’m not certain in case you say Congratulations to the King however I say it. For the individuals who actually have a good time it, don’t take into consideration different stuff.
‘People who are not happy about it, say it, and that’s it. I feel it was completely Ok.’
Back on the pitch, Salah celebrated one other step in the direction of legendary standing.
‘It is something that makes me proud,’ stated Salah. ‘I’m motivated to maintain breaking data and win video games for the staff.
‘I wish to rating higher targets than that however will take it for an important three factors.
‘I instructed David (Raya) he hit the ball on my knee. I used to be simply comfortable I scored. We have improved quite a bit within the final couple of weeks, six (wins) in a row and a pair of clear sheets which is essential.’
Salah has scored some spectacular targets in his Reds profession however this one was scrappy. Fabinho’s dink to the far put up was headed throughout by van Dijk and Salah took a primary contact together with his studs earlier than finishing the job from the useful ricochet a yard out.
it was sufficient for Liverpool to finish a sixth consecutive victory, the final 5 by a single-goal margin.
Though fourth-placed Manchester United are nonetheless favourites to qualify for the Champions League, Liverpool are solely a point behind and Erik ten Hag’s males must make the primary of their two video games in hand pay at West Ham tomorrow (Sunday night).
Liverpool might rely to having different probabilities, Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been denied by sensible saves from Raya whereas Nunez and Cody Gakpo additionally missed the goal when nicely positioned contained in the field.
But Brentford, whose solely win at Anfield was approach again in one other coronation yr 1937 when George VI was topped, additionally gave it a go and confirmed why they’re within the prime half this season.
Captain and prime scorer Ivan Toney, who had scored with a low free-kick in opposition to Nottingham Forest final weekend, virtually repeated the trick after 38 minutes with a shot that beat Alisson but in addition the far put up.
Bryan Mbuemo additionally beat Alisson earlier than a prolonged VAR examine dominated he’d begun his run previous Virgil an Dijk fractionally early. The bodily confrontation between Toney and van Dijk was compelling all through.
Unusually, Klopp had began with 4 forwards however diminished that to 3 for the ultimate quarter, sending on Jordan Henderson for Jota, needing to tighten up with Thomas Frank’s aspect threatening an equaliser.
When Mr Taylor blew the ultimate whistle, Alisson was relieved to have saved his hundredth clear sheet as a Liverpool goalkeeper and he was even booked for timewasting with The Bees eager to pepper the Liverpool purpose with excessive crosses within the remaining levels.
Klopp joined within the refrain of reward for Salah: ‘I can’t see him stopping. That’s simply his nature – you’ll want to have this need to attain targets,’ stated the Reds boss.
‘A lot of people don’t admire gamers when they’re nonetheless taking part in. For us, it’s clear. He is an all-time nice.’
On the highest 4 race, he added: ‘If Manchester United win their games in hand, then they are seven points away and it is pretty much done. We know that bu it’s an fascinating interval. Nothing is set and that’s good.’
For Brentford, their ahead Mbuemo rued his closely-ruled out equaliser.
‘They had a very high line so I had to gamble all the time. It was a (fine) margin to not be a goal,’ he stated. ‘At the end they tried to win as much time as they could.’
Bees supervisor Thomas Frank was comfortable to see his staff be courageous sufficient to press Liverpool excessive up the pitch. ‘It was a good performance, my only complaint was the final pass or cross. We could have tested the goalkeeper more. But last season, we lost 3-0 here, it is a huge development.’
