Mohamed Salah grabs the winner as the Reds move one point ahead of Manchester United

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By Joe Bernstein for The Mail on Sun 19:23 06 May 2023 Updated at 20:40 06 May 2023

Liverpool secured their sixth consecutive Premier League victory on Saturday when they beat Brentford 1-0 at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah scoring the only goal, his 100th goal at Anfield and the 30th goal of the season, with a close-range strike. Bryan Mbeumu after 39 minutes, but was ruled offside

On an emotional day at Anfield in which the local support team loudly booed the national anthem for the coronation of Charles III, the Kop managed to sign the praises of their Egyptian king Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool fans made their controversial choice to mock God Save the King at an ear-splitting volume before kick-off, when they also unleashed a powerful rendition of their signature tune, You’ll Never Walk Alone.

The senses were almost relieved when Anthony Taylor blew the whistle to start the football match and Salah made the winning tackle after just 13 minutes to shatter all sorts of records and personal milestones.

Turning Virgil van Dijk’s header across from close range, Salah became the first Liverpool player in history to score in nine consecutive home matches, and also reached the century at Anfield.

Additionally, it meant he reached 30 goals in a season for the fourth time since joining from Roma in 2017 and joins Steven Gerrard for fifth on the all-time goalscoring list, at 186.

Mohamed Salah scored his 30th goal of the season, and the 100th goal at Anfield, on Saturday, as Liverpool beat Brentford 1-0. Brian Mbeumu put the ball into the net for the guests after 39 minutes, but it was later ruled out for offside. He performed excellently in his new hybrid role and hit some excellent passes, although he made occasional defensive errors

Responding to the fans’ reaction to the national anthem, which the club was asked to play in the Premier League, Klopp said:

Match facts and player ratings

Liverpool (4-2-1-3): Alisson 7: Alexander-Arnold 7.5, Konate 6.5, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 6 (Tsimikas 82); Jones 6 (Milner 82), Fabinho 6; Gabo 6.5; Salah 7, Nunez 6 (Diaz 65 6), Jota 7 (Henderson 72 7)

Subs Unused: Keeler (GK), Gomez, Matip, Carvalho, Elliott Goal: Salah 13 Reserved: Van Dijk, Fabinho, Konate, Alisson

Brentford (5-3-2): Raya 6: Hickey 6 (Wisa 88), Zanka 6.5, Pinnock 6, Mi 7, Henry 6 (Da Silva 72); Jensen 7 (Damsgaard 82), Onika 6 (Shady 72), Janellet 6 (Baptiste 82); Tony 7, Mbiumu 6

Subs not used: Cox (GK), Ager, Quddos, Reserved Subs: Mbomou, Henry

Referee: Anthony Taylor 7

“First of all, today was an important day for England and I have a lot of respect for that. Everyone wants to be happy with it and celebrate it. Not everything is better than it was in the past, but thank God we have freedom of expression and freedom of opinion.”

It was obvious that something like this would happen, and everyone knew it. That’s fine, nothing else happened, there were no cheers.

People showed, I don’t know exactly what it was, but they weren’t always happy in the past with the way Liverpool, the club and the city were treated. This is it.

Today to all the other people who loved that day I’m not sure if you’re going to say congratulations to the King but I say it. For the people who really celebrate it, think nothing of it.

People who are not happy about it, say so, and that’s it. I think it was totally fine.

Back on the field, Salah celebrated another step towards legendary status.

“It’s something that makes me proud,” Salah said. I’m excited to keep records and win matches for the team.

“I’d like to score better goals than that, but I’ll take it to get three very important points.

I told David (Ria) that he hit the ball on my knee. I was just glad I signed up. We’ve improved a lot in the last two weeks, six (wins) in a row and a few clean sheets which is important.

Salah scored some great goals in his Reds career, but this one was a bad one. Van Dijk steered towards the far corner with Fabinho’s header, and Salah took the first touch with his buttons before completing the task from a useful rebound in the outfield.

Liverpool took a physical approach in an attempt to nullify the Bees and received four yellow cards accordingly Darwin Nunez had an excellent chance in the first half after an over the top ball from Alexander-Arnold but failed to put it away. Chance after the break when he hits a half volley well wide of the post

It was enough for Liverpool to achieve a sixth successive victory, and the last five wins, by one goal.

Although fourth-placed Manchester United are still favorites to qualify for the Champions League, Liverpool are only one point behind, and Erik ten Hag’s men need to play the first of two postponed matches at West Ham tomorrow (Sunday evening).

Liverpool can count on other chances, as Darwin Nunez and Trent Alexander-Arnold were cleverly denied by Raya while Nunez and Cody Jacobo both missed the target when well placed inside the penalty area.

But Brentford, whose only win was at Anfield way back in another crowning year in 1937 when George VI was crowned, also gave the chance and showed why they’ve been in the first half this season.

Captain and leading scorer Ivan Toney, who scored from a low free-kick against Nottingham Forest last week, almost repeated the trick after 38 minutes with a shot that beat Alisson but also hit the far post.

Brian Mbomou also beat Alisson before a lengthy VAR check that he had started his run past Virgil and Dijk early. The physical confrontation between Tony and Van Dijk was disguised throughout.

Unusually, Klopp had started with four strikers but reduced that to three in the final quarter, sending on Jordan Henderson in place of Jota, as he needed to tighten up with Thomas Frank’s side and threatened to equalise.

When Mr Taylor blew the final whistle, Alisson was relieved to have kept his 100th clean sheet as Liverpool goalkeeper, and was even booked for wasting time with The Bees keen to advance the Liverpool goal with lofty passes in the closing stages.

And Klopp joined the chorus of praise for Salah: “I can’t see him stopping. That’s just his nature – you have to have this desire to score goals,” said the Reds boss.

“A lot of people don’t appreciate players when they’re still playing. For us, it’s obvious. It’s absolutely fantastic.”

Evan Toni produced some impressive skills but ultimately failed to make a significant impact on the game. Jurgen Klopp’s side have won six Premier League matches in a row and sit one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

In the first four races, he added: “If Manchester United win their games at hand, they’re seven points away and pretty much done. We know this is an interesting period. Nothing’s been decided and that’s fine.”

For Brentford, their striker Mboymou pulled home the equaliser.

They had a very thin line so I had to gamble the whole time. It was a fringe (fine) not to be a target. “In the end, they tried to buy as much time as possible.”

Bee coach Thomas Frank was delighted to see his team brave enough to press Liverpool high up the field. “It was a good performance, my only complaint was the final pass or the cross. We could have tested the goalkeeper more. But last season, we lost 3-0 here, it’s a huge development.

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