Liverpool 4-1 Cardiff: Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah on target as Liverpool top league
SADIO MANE scored a brace of goals and Mohamed Salah continued his return to form as Liverpool moved to the summit of the Premier League with a comfortable 4-1 victory against lowly Cardiff. See how the action unfolded with Express Sport.
Liverpool's Fabinho gets SERENADED by team mates on birthday
Salah ended any suggestion he was suffering a 'goal drought' when he converted from close range after Mane's shot was parried in the ninth minute - his fourth goal in three matches.
Liverpool enjoyed 86 percent possession and had 12 shots in a commanding first half, the only surprise being that Juergen Klopp's side did not add a second goal before the break.
It took until the 66th minute for Liverpool to add a second, with Mane wriggling through a couple of challenges before unleashing a fierce drive into the corner with his left foot.
Cardiff set up a potentially nervy finish when Callum Paterson scored in the 77th minute, but Xherdan Shaqiri and Mane put the game to bed with late efforts.
Liverpool, still unbeaten and winners of eight of their 10 matches, have 26 points - three clear of champions Manchester City who will reclaim top spot if they beat Tottenham on Monday evening.
Neil Warnock's Cardiff side remain 17th with just five points from their opening 10 matches.
LIVERPOOL 4-1 CARDIFF | SALAH (10), MANE (66, 86), PATERSON (77), SHAQIRI (84)
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Moreno, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Lallana, Mane, Salah, Firmino
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
LIVERPOOL 4-1 CARDIFF
FT: It’s all over folks. Liverpool continue their exceptional start to the season with a 4-1 victory over Cardiff at Anfield. Goals from Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Xherdan Shaqiri were enough too see off Neil Warnock’s side, who did grab a goal and spoil this clean sheet marathon!
LIVERPOOL 4-1 CARDIFF |MANE
86: Well that was a thing of beauty. Absolute beauty.
Sadio Mane collects Mohamed Salah’s sumptuous pass and clips it delicately over the onrushing Etheridge. Glorious stuff.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
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LIVERPOOL 3-1 CARDIFF | SHAQIRI
84: Did I say these were worrying moments for Liverpool? Forget that!
Mohamed Salah embarks on a run down the right touchline before squaring it over to Xherdan Shaqiri, who shifts the ball onto his left and powers beyond Etheridge.
82: Salah wriggles free down the right and looks for a deft chip over Etheridge, who gathers rather easily.
Worrying moments for Liverpool now as Cardiff start to believe.
80: Blimey, Mohamed Salah collides with Bennett inside the penalty area but It’s the Liverpool man penalised for a foul. I suspect he would have been offside anyway. Storm in a teacup.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
LIVERPOOL 2-1 CARDIFF | PATERSON
77: Wait… this wasn’t in the script! Liverpool concede a first Premier League goal at home since West Ham on February 24.
Junior Hoilett’s low ball takes a hefty deflection off Virgil van Dijk. That touch puts it straight into the path of Callum Paterson and he nudges it into the back of the net.
Surely Cardiff can’t do the unthinkable, can they?!
72: Jurgen Klopp makes a change with James Milner replacing Roberto Firmino, who’s been very quiet indeed.
69: Will the floodgates open? You wouldn’t bet against it as the Anfield faithful make themselves heard. Fabinho and Mane exchange a few quick passes before the winger is sent spiralling to the floor. No penalty given.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
LIVERPOOL 2-0 CARDIFF | MANE
66: Game, set and match. Liverpool have put this game to bed with a well-struck second from Sadio Mane.
Cardiff fail to clear their lines and Mane makes space for himself before smashing the ball into the far corner. Could Etheridge have done better? Perhaps not, It was a rocket!
63: Penalty appeal! Alberto Moreno is screaming for a spot-kick as he cross strikes the arm on Hoilett. Would have been pretty harsh considering the distance from the ball. Anyway, Salah’s corner is poor and Morrison clears.
60: Just 67 percent possession for Liverpool in this second half. Jurgen Klopp makes a change with Xherdan Shaqiri replacing Adam Lallana.
59: And another set-piece for Cardiff, who really have tested Liverpool since the re-start. Josh Murphy decides against any intricate play and hammers a 25-yard effort high and wide.
56: Disallowed goal!Cardiff have the ball in the back of the net, but it’s ruled out for offside. Morrison pokes home after a goalmouth scramble but he went a few seconds too early.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
54: Aron Gunnarsson winds up to launch a long throw into the Liverpool box… Trent Alexander-Arnold heads it clear. Liverpool do break straight away but Adam Lallana and Mohamed Salah can't combine on the edge of the box.
51: Cardiff have failed to have a single touch in Liverpool's box during the first half. They still haven’t…
48: Jose Murphy looks to start the half with some pizzazz but having cut inside from the left channel, he runs into a brick wall in the form of Dejan Lovren.
LIVERPOOL 1-0 CARDIFF
45: And we’re back underway folks. No changes for either side, but I would hope for a slight rise in tempo.
The Reds are currently top of the table and will stay there for at least 48 hours should they see this one out.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
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Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
LIVERPOOL 1-0 CARDIFF
HT: Liverpool haven’t broken sweat as they walk in with an advantage at the break. Mohamed Salah grabbed the only goal of the half when reacting quickest to Wijnaldum’s blocked shot. Cardiff playing a game of damage limitations - and they are doing it very well indeed.
43: Fair play to the traveling Cardiff fans - they are loving life at Anfield despite the fact they haven’t had a shot at goal. “What the f****** hell was that,” was sung as Firmino thwacked a long-ranger over the crossbar.
41: Now what can Liverpool do from this corner? Van Dijk and Lovren still into the penalty area… the Dutch defender volleys high into the stands. Roberto Firmino then collects the ball just outside the box and curls over.
38: It’s the most comfortable 1-0 you’ve ever seen, but it’s not exactly blowing my socks off. Liverpool are content to boss the possession statistics and wait for Cardiff to open up.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
35:Cardiff’s deadliest weapon? Gunnarsson’s long throw… Now Liverpool know a thing or two about these thanks to their throw-in coach. The latest is flown in but Virgil van Dijk is up to clear.
33:Oh, bit of danger for Liverpool to deal with as Camarasa intercepts a lazy pass across midfield. The midfielder makes the wrong pass and Fabinho is there to recover. Game slowed down a touch since Mohamed Salah’s opener.
30: Fabinho is clearly enjoying himself in midfield. He’s pulling the strings and retaining possession nicely. Jurgen Klopp has played a blinder by allowing him time to adapt - Red Star Belgrade and Cardiff are two of the nicest games he could have hoped for.
27: Trent Alexander-Arnold is being the freedom of the right flank and he certainly makes the most of it. He collects after some very impressive approach play, spins and fires wide.
24: Nice break from Camarasa and Josh Murphy, but they're unable to find anyone in the box. Alisson gathers and Liverpool go on their merry way.
21: Alberto Moreno doe well to draw a free-kick on the left touchline but Salah’s delivery is too low and Paterson clears it into orbit.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
18:Just the 85 percent possession for Liverpool thus far. That’s all, just 85 percent…
15:Goodness me, Liverpool could have scored three or four.
Adam Lallana slips Mohamed Salah through but Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge anticipates it and races off his line to make the save. Moments later Salah goes down under pressure from Bennett but the referee isn’t interested.
13: Woodwork! Liverpool look thirsty for more goals now and Virgil van Dijk nearly grabs one. The centre-back meets Mohamed Salah’s cross and diverts the ball onto the far post. Inches from the opener.
LIVERPOOL 1-0 CARDIFF | SALAH
10: I was about to say that Liverpool have been slow and methodical… not anymore!
It’s not the slickest of moves, but Mohamed Salah doesn’t care as he blasts Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead on the ten-minute mark.
Mane and Wijnaldum both have efforts blocked and the Egyptian star arrives to arrow it in.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
8: Bobby Reid looks for a spectacular overhead kick but he’s completely missed the ball and connected with the chest of Wijnaldum. Don’t worry, after a few moments he’s back on his feet.
5: Liverpool enjoying the bulk of possession in the early stages. Jurgen Klopp’s side are in no rush to score - they have that ‘champions’ confidence that It’s going to come.
3: Neil Warnock meets Jurgen Klopp for the first time and the pair have a quick hug before KO.
Bit of a worry for Paterson, who takes a knock to the head when challenging Moreno for an aerial ball. Quick rub and he’s fine to continue.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 CARDIFF
1: Y’all ready for this? I don’t have Mohamed Salah in my fantasy football team - so I’m certain the guy is going to score a hat-trick. Crazy goals incoming at Anfield!
I’ll keep you updated with the results elsewhere too. I’m nice like that.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: PA)
Twitter round-up
Fill: Some muppets want the same starting XI to start all the games in Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. Why do we even need more than 11 players in the squad then?!
Abby: The major difference between this season and previous ones is the rotated team strength. There's four players from our best 11 that aren't playing today and it still seems like a strong starting line-up.
Cheryl: Ahhhhh a meltdown because the team has been announced. We support all of them, because Jurgen Klopp is the manager, and he has picked the team go figure eh!
It’s been a while…
14:50: Cardiff’s last league win over Liverpool was in December 1959 in the second tier, a 4-0 victory at Anfield in Bill Shankly’s third league match in charge of Liverpool.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: REUTERS)
Sulky Salah? It was relief!
14:50: Mohamed Salah did not celebrate against Red Star Belgrade out of sheer relief, former Reds ace Stephen Warnock has told Express Sport.
Liverpool forward Salah struck a brace as the Reds thumped Red Star Belgrade 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
And Warnock, who rose up through the Anfield academy and made 67 appearances before leaving for Blackburn in 2006, believes Salah’s sulky demeanour was down to sheer relief.
“I think it was relief,” Quest pundit Warnock told Express Sport when asked about the muted celebrations. “It was probably his way of letting some steam out.
“A lot has been written and said about him this season but he’s still a huge asset for Liverpool. Against Huddersfield at the weekend, he scored and it looked as if the heavens might open. They didn’t then but scoring twice will be good to get the confidence up. He’s going to play a key role this season.”
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: PA)
Twitter round-up
Elle: Moreno & Lovren!! Klopp yet again pushing the boundaries on how many “not good enough” players I can bring in and still get a result. Not enough respect being shown here, will bite one afternoon and can be avoided!!
Jacob: I know he was out with injury for a long time but Clyne has been back fit for a while yet doesn’t make the bench,don’t get it. Before injury he was one of the 1st names on the team sheet & 2nd best RB in the league to Walker, surely a better option than Moreno at LB.
Scott: Why’s everyone flapping about Moreno? It’s not ideal but it’s only Cardiff ffs!
Defence
14:40: Liverpool's biggest improvement has been at the back. I think we can all agree on that?
Virgil van Dijk and Brazil international goalkeeper Alisson have marshalled a defence that has kept seven clean sheets in 13 matches in all competitions.
Warnock revealed he had passed up on the chance to sign Van Dijk years before Liverpool made the Dutchman the most expensive defender in the world when they signed him from Southampton in January.
"I'm delighted (Van Dijk's) playing like he is," Warnock added. "We could have bought him at Crystal Palace for £6m but my chief scout told me he was too slow. I think he's still in a job as well."
Van Dijk and Sol Bamba at centre-back? Phwoah!
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
Great gesture
14:30: Jurgen Klopp is a crowd favourite at Anfield - and there is no wonder why.
For the Kop chief on Friday donated £4,500 to injured fan Sean Cox to help his recovery.
Father-of-three Sean is in a Dublin rehab unit after being brutally attacked outside Anfield.
He faces a medical bill likely to run into millions and has been unable to communicate since coming out of a coma in July.
Not only has Klopp made a huge gesture to the 53-year-old supporter, the club announced they would be dedicating today's game against Cardiff to raising more.
On top of the £4,500 donated in Klopp's name, another £4,500 was made anonymously bringing the total for the Co Meath man to £65,000.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
“Virtually impossible task”
14:20: Jurgen Klopp has laughed off Neil Warnock's claim that Cardiff will have a "virtually impossible" task at Liverpool and stressed how much he is looking forward to meeting the Bluebirds boss.
Almost certain that’s the first time I’ve heard someone looking forward to meeting Neil…
Warnock said yesterday: "It's massive. It's virtually impossible for any team in the current game."
When that was then put to Klopp at his pre-match press conference, the Reds manager laughed and said: "I am really looking forward to meeting him. I heard a lot about him, and he's obviously vocal-wise very talented.
"It will be a big pleasure to meet him - not sure during the 90 minutes, but before and after I'm sure. He looks like a character, a very, very emotional and lively person.
"I watched a lot of the final period of the Championship last year, and it was impressive how they did it. From all the big English active managers, he's the last one I have to meet. I'm looking forward to it."
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: PA)
Twitter round-up
Tom: The line-up for today… I wouldn’t have benched Xherdan Shaqiri personally. But I do understand bringing in Alberto Moreno and Dejan Lovren. Giving Joe Gomez and Andrew Robertson need a rest!
Jacob: Jurgen Klopp taking Halloween really serious this year and putting Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno in a back four together, scariest thing I’ve ever seen!
Michael: I do hate criticising any player who wears red, but I really, really was hoping I’d seen the last of Alberto Moreno in a red shirt. Here’s hoping he plays an absolute blinder today!
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: PA)
Team news - Cardiff
14:10: Nice and simple from Neil Warnock. Just the one change for Cardiff with the injured Harry Arter being replaced by Junior Hoilett.
Team news - Liverpool
14:05: The fantasy football community’s heads have fallen off with the news that Jurgen Klopp has waned Andrew Robertson a rest.
The Scottish left-back has pretty-much started every match this season and has been replaced by Alberto Moreno against Cardiff this afternoon.
Two other changes for Jurgen Klopp as Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren replace Joe Gomez and Xherdan Shaqiri, who are among the substitutes.
Premier League: Jurgen Klopp previews Liverpool vs Cardiff clash
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
Liverpool vs Cardiff
14:00: And here come the line-ups. Three changes for Liverpool with Andrew Robertson, Joe Gomez and Xherdan Shaqiri dropping out.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Moreno, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Lallana, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
Form…
13:55: I’m sure you are aware of the form of these two sides, but It couldn’t hurt to refresh your memories and waste time until the teams are announced…
Liverpool are currently unbeaten and second in the Premier League, level on points with leaders Manchester City, and on Wednesday they beat Red Star Belgrade 4-0 at Anfield in the Champions League.
Cardiff, meanwhile, are 17th with five points from nine games, having secured their first win of the season last weekend when they beat Fulham 4-2 at home.
Consider yourselves informed…
Hello
13:50: Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Cardiff from Anfield.
The Premier League returns after those pesky European fixtures and I couldn’t be happier not to have to write out the names of those Red Star Belgrade players again.
Gobeljic, Jovicic, Krsticic… It was all too much for me, but they will be forever etched in my memory.
Anyway, we’re here to see if Jurgen Klopp’s side can set an outright top-flight club record of 10 consecutive home clean sheets and put Cardiff to the sword.
Right that’s enough of an introduction - let’s have the line-ups and team news.
Liverpool vs Cardiff: Express Sport brings you LIVE Premier League score, goals and updates (Image: GETTY)
LIVERPOOL vs CARDIFF
Naby Keita has been ruled out for Liverpool with a hamstring injury. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had already said earlier in the week that Jordan Henderson, who has a hamstring issue of his own, would be absent.
Cardiff pair Harry Arter (ankle) and Josh Murphy (knock) are fitness doubts. Gary Madine could return to the squad after a virus, but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (knee), Lee Peltier (shoulder) and Danny Ward (knee) remain sidelined as Joe Ralls serves the second game of a three-match ban.
Last five league matches: Liverpool W W D D W; Cardiff L L L L W
Top scorers: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 6; Josh Murphy (Cardiff) 2