Liverpool’s victory over Brentford not only brought them closer to the top four of the Premier League but also shifted the focus away from the controversial booing of the national anthem at Anfield.
The majority of fans expressed their dissatisfaction by jeering ‘God Save the King’ due to long-standing grievances with the establishment’s treatment of the city, including the handling of the Hillsborough disaster and the fight for justice. However, the atmosphere quickly changed when the iconic anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ began playing, and Mohamed Salah started the celebrations with a milestone goal.
Salah’s 13th-minute goal, though not his most elegant, marked a significant achievement as it was his 100th goal at Anfield. He became the first Liverpool player to score in nine consecutive home matches across all competitions. This goal also added to his impressive statistics, as he reached 30 goals in a season for the third consecutive time, equalling Steven Gerrard’s fifth-place record on the club’s all-time goalscoring list with 186 goals.
The victory, Liverpool’s sixth in a row, brought them within one point of fourth-placed Manchester United and three points behind Newcastle in third, both of whom have two matches in hand. Manager Jurgen Klopp made strategic changes to the lineup, with Cody Gakpo returning to the team and captain Jordan Henderson playing on the right side of midfield due to his fitness concerns.
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Van Dijk received an early booking for a challenge on Frank Onyeka, and it was Fabinho who provided the assist for the opener with a well-placed chip to Van Dijk, who headed it back to Salah for the goal.
Although Brentford showed resilience and had their moments, including a disallowed goal for offside, Liverpool’s defense held strong. Trent Alexander-Arnold showcased his passing skills from a midfield position, and his brilliant lob found Darwin Nunez, whose finish fell short of the pass’s quality.
Despite some tense moments, Liverpool’s defense managed to protect their lead, with Alisson Becker making crucial saves and Gakpo missing a close-range opportunity.
As the game progressed, the Kop entertained themselves with chants, expressing their sentiments about the coronation and honoring their beloved King Kenny Dalglish. Klopp made substitutions to maintain control of the game and secure the victory. The introduction of Henderson and James Milner provided stability in midfield, and Liverpool’s cautious approach paid off as they held on to their lead until the final whistle.
With this important win, Liverpool remains in contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League, and Mohamed Salah continues to solidify his status as one of the club’s all-time greats through his remarkable performances and consistent goal-scoring prowess.
