Roberto Firmino rebounded
Roberto Firmino’s smile was bright enough to light up a gray December day in South London.
The Brazilian had just dominated Mo Salah’s pass before hoisting it over the helpless Vicente Guaita at Crystal Palace.
It was his second, LiverpoolFifth, everything was fine in his world again.
It was a memorable few days for the number 9 owner.
After his manager, Juergen Klopp, apparently went to his racket regularly during press conferences this season, he paid him really well this week.
Firmino was the first here Liverpool is at its best They did his job from front to back before providing the finishing touches to Andy Robertson’s smart cross.
It was a spectacular attack that got the perfect finishing touch it deserved.
The second was totally fun taking his personal campaign tally to five.
Suddenly, the seemingly shy striker adds them to his overall match and he’s now only one behind Sadio Mane.
Five of the seven recorded here were among the Reds’ top three. That would be an alarming statistic For anyone considering challenging a title of their own.
This irresistible show from Firmino, Mane and Mohamed Salah, was a lot like a campaign when they scored 91 goals between them in the 2017/18 season.
Liverpool’s biggest away win ever in the top flight is a simple reminder of the strength inside this team when the mood swings.
And if the rising trio were really adjusting, any lingering concerns they had about the main problem at the center of the defense would appear later on their way to defend their crown.
Mohamed Salah showing his calling cards
For 57 minutes, Mohamed Salah was itchy.
As a teammate Riots began in south LondonThe Egyptian was caught and left to kick his heels on the sidelines.
The reaction of the man he was replaced by, Mane, also spoke volumes.
His apparent frustration was demonstrated by the fact that Liverpool, at 4-0, knew that goals had to be scored at Selhurst Park.
Entering the battle before the hour mark, Salah was licking his lips.
First, help. To Firmino with a well-weighted pass.
With five goals and it’s time to take center stage with two goals that perfectly embody what Salah is about at Anfield.
Palaces and poetry are two Salah invitation cards.
His opening goal was a real goal-chase action, finding space in a crowded penalty area before crouching inside the six-yard area for a header past the goalkeeper.
If you still keep score, it was Liverpool’s sixth, but Salah, as leaning the greats, has saved the best until the end.
His brilliant effort at balls was the final touch to the genius in the match that rocked him all afternoon.
Salah is now 16 years old this season in all competitions and puts him No. 13 in the Premier League at the top of the race for the third Golden Boot in England.
Salah had said before the match: “I hope I can break all club records, that will be amazing.”
It is this hunger that continues to propel him and Liverpool to greatness.
Sadio Mane was absorbed by the palace
After nine barren matches, Sadio Mane could not ask for more hosts.
The Senegal star has gone through the biggest spell in front of goal since becoming a player at Liverpool in the summer of 2016 for the past six weeks or so.
Mane has not scored a goal for the Reds since the 5-0 match in Atalanta on November 3.
As Goalless Running was about to enter his tenth game, Mane’s eyes may have lit up as he saw the match-list.
Half a dozen matches against Palace returned to many goals, before the match and after a sharp turn and later finished, it was up to seven.
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Turning away from Nathaniel Clyne provided the opportunity that enabled Mane to surpass Guaita with confidence.
Two are none and the drought is over.
Given that Klopp is unable to call up Nine-goalscoring Diogo Jota in the next two months, Mane has set the time for his return to score almost entirely.
It’s inside the penalty area where the decisive moments of the match take place and challenge Liverpool’s heartless streak here.
This was no more apparent than when Mane skillfully finished off an attack that knocked the fight off the hosts.
The appearance of anger when his number rose before the hour mark showed you that he is in the mood more, too.
Beware West Bromwich Albion.
