Trademark Salah finish completes Liverpool fightback as Slot's Reds go top
SIMPLY SALAH: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the winner. Pic: Nigel French/PA Wire.
A STORMING second-half comeback from Liverpool featured goals from Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah and had supporters daring to dream of another Liverpool title charge as they moved back to the top of the table.
It helped that results elsewhere went the way of the Reds, enjoying a fine start under new manager Arne Slot.
And, as bad as the first-half display was, in which they conceded the opening goal to Ferdi Kadioglu, the response after the restart had the air of champions about it.
Gakpo equalised on 69 minutes, as he received a pass from Virgil van Dijk and whipped in a dangerous cross that evaded players from both sides before nestling in the far corner.
The goal electrified an already vocal Anfield and, within three minutes, Liverpool were in front as Curtis Jones led a fast break upfield and found Salah surging into the area.
The Egyptian produced a trademark finish, as he beat defender Pervis Estupinan and deposited an unstoppable left-foot shot into the top corner from just inside the area.
It made it 10 wins out of the last 11 league and cup games for Slot’s side, with last week’s draw at Arsenal the only blot on their recent form book, and opened up a two-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table.
Arsenal’s defeat earlier in the day had also been greeted with a loud cheer from Liverpool supporters but their players failed to capitalise on that advantage in a lacklustre first half.
In fact, they deservedly fell behind on 14 minutes from one of a series of blistering counter-attacks launched by Fabian Hurzeler’s side.
Kadioglu was heavily involved, sweeping the ball wide to Kaoru Mitoma whose left-wing cross was touched on by Danny Welbeck.
And Kadioglu, having continued his run, had the space to fire in a superb right-foot finish across the diving Caoimhin Kelleher from 15 yards.
It was the highlight of a strong first-half showing from the visitors although it seemed possible that they would be made to pay for not adding to their lead with one of a number of other chances.
Georginio Rutter missed the best, being played clean through by Yasin Ayari on 27 minutes only to be superbly denied by Kelleher when he had only the Ireland keeper to beat.
A Welbeck free-kick also shaved the Liverpool post while Kadoiglu volleyed wildly over in a similar move to the opening goal he had plundered.
Liverpool disappointed, although Bart Verbruggen stretched to save an early curling shot from Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate had a couple of attempts blocked following a corner.
But the home side were unrecognisable after the interval and looked hungry for the equaliser, starting in the opening minute when effective substitute Joe Gomez placed a free header straight at Verbruggen.
With Liverpool holding a firm grip on midfield - unlike in the first half - former Brighton star Alexis Mac Alister headed just wide from the six-yard box while Salah raced onto Nunez’s header but was smothered by Verbruggen diving at his feet.
And after the two goals, Gomez could have ensured a comfortable final five minutes for his team but, once again, headed straight at Verbruggen, from a Kostas Tsimikas corner.
Kelleher 6; Alexander-Arnold 7, Konate 6 (Gomez 46, 6), van Dijk 6, Tsimikas 6; Gravenberch 7, Szoboszlai 6 (Diaz 66, 6), Mac Allister 6 (Jones 66, 7); Salah 7 (Bradley 90), Nunez 6 (Endo 77, 5), Gakpo 8.
Verbruggen 7; Veltman 6 (Gruda 76, 5), van Hecke 6, Julio 5, Estupinan 5; Kadioglu 7 (Moder 88), Hinshelwood 6 (Ferguson 88), Ayari 6 (Wieffer 76, 5), Mitoma 8 (Adingra 87); Rutter 6, Welbeck 7.
T Harrington 7
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