Record-breaker Salah leads Liverpool to top-four finish

Mohamed Salah broke another Premier League record as Liverpool comfortably saw off Brighton.

It was a day of firsts for Liverpool on Sunday in their 4-0 Premier League win over Brighton. Dejan Lovren headed in his first home goal of the season, Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson scored their first goals for the club, and record-breaking Mohamed Salah became the first ever player to score 32 goals in a 38-match Premier League season.  The individual milestones paved the way for a comfortable 4-0 win over Brighton and secured the club a much coveted top-four finish.

The result capped a fine season for Liverpool which saw them go the entire league campaign unbeaten at home under Jurgen Klopp. More importantly, it also saw the club secure qualification for next season’s Champions League ahead of this season’s final against Real Madrid.

Liverpool knew heading into the match that at least a point would be needed to keep fifth-placed Chelsea at bay. Two goals in each half from the Reds meant the result was never in doubt, and it was ultimately unnecessary anyway as Chelsea slipped to a 3-0 defeat to Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

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The result bodes well for Liverpool and will have provided a confidence boost ahead of the final against Madrid in Kiev on May 26. The Merseysiders had dropped points in each of their last three matches, against West Brom, Stoke and Chelsea, and will be glad to be back to winning ways ahead of the biggest match in club football. While it won’t have warranted much consideration, the result also means Liverpool can approach the final with (slightly) less pressure knowing that even if they lose, they will be assured of a Champions League spot next season.

While Real Madrid are a completely different animal, Klopp will be pleased with what he saw against Brighton. The quality of Mohamed Salah may well prove the difference against Madrid, and the Egyptian was at his effervescent best again. His record-breaking goal set Liverpool on their way before he set up Solanke with a sleek reverse pass for the club’s third on the day. Liverpool’s answer to Cristiano Ronaldo, Salah collected his PFA Player of the Year, FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Golden Boot awards after the match, and will head to Kiev with his tail up.

Klopp will also have been pleased to see Adam Lallana make his long-awaited return from injury. The former England Player of the Year looked sharp during his second-half cameo, and his return will be a welcome sight for the German manager whose midfield options have been limited by injuries to Emre Can and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain.

Regardless of what happens in the final, Liverpool will look back at the season with a lot of pride. The club have played the most attractive brand of football — notwithstanding the record-breaking exploits of Man City — and secured consecutive top four finishes for the first time since 2009. That said, Liverpool have been in record-breaking form of their own in Europe and will be backing themselves to claim a sixth title in the competition.