Liverpool’s 4-1 victory against Brentford secured an outstanding title marker and restored their five-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
When City plays Chelsea at teatime, they will have a chance to retaliate, but Jurgen Klopp’s team was in the mood and ran amok at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Ten minutes before the half, Darwin Nunez broke the deadlock with a brilliant lob of Bees keeper Mark Flekken after Diogo Jota had played him clean.
Just after the half, Alexis Mac Allister headed home Mohamed Salah’s cross to extend Liverpool’s lead before the Egyptian, making his comeback after suffering a hamstring injury at the Africa Cup of Nations, made it three.
For the fourth time in five games since his return from a betting ban, Ivan Toney gave Brentford fans a fleeting glimpse of hope until Cody Gakpo broke through to score the game’s last goal and slammed the door.