Liverpool won 3-0 at Brentford with Mohamed Salah scoring his 200th goal in English football.
Diogo Jota and Salah’s brace moved Liverpool up to second in the league, ahead of Arsenal on goal differential.
Darwin Nunez scored twice in the first half but was called offside.
The Uruguayan’s relentless involvement in Liverpool’s attacking play paid off in the 39th minute, when he sent through Salah, who beat Mark Flekken to give Liverpool a crucial lead.
Salah scored his second after halftime with a straightforward header after Kostas Tsimikas kept the ball in play to cross.
Jota beat two Brentford players and fired into the far corner to seal the win in the 74th minute.
Match player ratings are here.
ALISSON (GK): 8
After a quick Brentford breakaway, Bryan Mbeumo faced the Brazilian shot-stopper in the first half. Supported Liverpool’s momentum. Well-deserved clean sheet.
RB Trent Alexander-Armstrong: 7
Goal-oriented and ambitious with passing. Solid defense.
Joel Matep (CB): 7
He was shocked when Paul Tierney blew for a fair challenge and was booked. Sounds defensive otherwise.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK (CB): 8
He may have opened the scoring but Flekken saved his header in the first half. After halftime, solid defending prevented Mbeumo from scoring in the box.
KOSTAS TSIMIKAS (LB): 8
Brilliantly kept the ball in play for the second goal and set up Jota for the third. Also improved defensively after two shaky games.
CM WATARU ENDO: 7
Easy but effective in’six’. The second half was tense as VAR spent what seemed like an age reviewing his red card challenge, but it was dismissed. Would’ve been brutal.
D. Szoboszlai (CM): 7
He helped Liverpool advance in the final third with good teamwork.
CM CODY GAKPO: 7
Linking midfield and attack. The first shot of the game was a brilliantly struck outside-the-box shot that would have troubled Flekken if it hadn’t gone clean down his throat.
RW Mohammed Salah: 8
He expertly beat Flekken to give Liverpool a vital lead, then doubled his tally with a simple header. English football has 200 goals. All-time great.
Darwin Nunez (ST): 8
Great pass to slot Salah through for the opener after two offside calls, one by the smallest margin. Active leadership.
DIOGO JOTA (LW): 8
Throughout, pressured Brentford defenders and looked sharp. Scored a great second-half goal into the bottom right corner to win.
SUBSTITUTES:
DIAZ (DIOGO JOTA, 83′): 6
A happy return for Diaz at Anfield.
Harvey Elliott (Cody Gakpo, 83′): 6
Aided contest completion.
Jarell Quansah (Trent Alexander-Armstrong, 90′): N/A
More minutes for the young defender.
James McConnell (Dominik Szoboszlai, 90+4′): NA
First Premier League game for 19-year-old.
