Premier League: Salah shines on return as Liverpool beat Brentford

Mohamed Salah scored and assisted off the bench on his return from injury in a 4-1 win at Brentford to temporarily send Liverpool five points clear at the top of the Premier League on Saturday.

Darwin Nunez’s chip finished off a devastating counter for Liverpool’s opener late in the first half but they did, however, lose Diogo Jota, stretchered off, and Curtis Jones to injury either side of the goal.

Nunez was also taken off at half-time after feeling a little niggle.

Salah replaced Jota and found his feet after the break, setting up Alexis Mac Allister for Liverpool’s second before adding their third as the leaders took charge of the second half.

Ivan Toney got one back for Brentford but an error from Nathan Collins handed Cody Gakpo Liverpool’s fourth to end the game.

Liverpool will nervously wait to learn the extent of those injuries ahead of next Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alisson already on the injury list.

They also face Luton Town on Wednesday in the league.

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Speaking on the injuries, Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, said Jones left the stadium on crutches after the win but that Jota’s injury appears to be the worst on first inspection.

Klopp said: “We have to see how much it costs us. We don’t know yet.

“Curtis Jones got a knock above his ankle. He wasn’t 100 per cent sure what it was. The fact Curtis could not play on tells you something because he would have played on at all costs.

“Diogo Jota looks the worst. I didn’t see it back but I heard the pictures [of the incident] didn’t look great. We have to see there.

“Darwin Nunez we took off because he said he felt something very little.”

Brentford have two Premier League games in quick succession. On Tuesday, they travel to Manchester City, while they travel to West Ham on Monday, February 26.

Liverpool also play another Premier League game in midweek, hosting Luton Town on Wednesday. They will then play in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, February 25, taking on Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.

The Star