Liverpool eases past Sheffield

With the win, Liverpool restored its 13-point lead at the top of the table. Salah opened the scoring in the 4th minute, capitalising on a slip from Sheffield defender George Baldock. Mane then tapped in from close range on 64 minutes after his original effort had been saved, securing victory that marked Liverpool staying unbeaten in the top-flight for a year.

Jurgen Klopp’s side has 58 points from 20 games - a feat only matched by Manchester City’s 2017-18 title-winning side - while Sheffield sits eighth, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea (36 points). Liverpool was far from its dazzling best but had too much quality for the newly-promoted outfit, which it illustratedby amassing a club-record874 passes.

“It was very unlike us. We didn’t lay a glove on it or do anything that has got us into this position,” Sheffield coach Chris Wilder told BT Sport. “Liverpool was outstanding. It didn’t have to get out of second or third gear, though. When we played it at our place, we laid a glove on it and made it difficult. But, this time, it won every first ball, dropped on every second ball, ran forward and ran back. It did those miles better than us.

“Liverpool still had the humility and desire to do all that as world champion and European champion. It is well on its way to being Premier League champion.” The only blot for Liverpool was when midfielder Naby Keita limped off during the warm-up. The Guinean was replaced by James Milner in the starting line-up.

The opener came after Baldock slipped under Virgil van Dijk’s long ball, allowing Andy Robertson to break into the box and square it for Salah, who swept in his 10th league goal of the season. The strike marked the beginning of a lively opening 15 minutes. John Lundstram saw a looping effort land just wide for the visitor as well as had an equaliser correctly ruled out for offside.

Salah was denied a second by a spectacular Dean Henderson save before Georginio Wijnaldum fired narrowly over. The Egyptian then hit the post after the restart. But he showed excellent composure to feed Mane, who struck after his initial effort was parriedby Henderson.