Premier League: Liverpool win over Cardiff to go top

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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 Cardiff City at Anfield on Saturday.

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 City 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 Hotspur on Monday evening.

Neil Warnock's Cardiff side remain 17th with just five points from their opening 10 matches.

'Creative' Liverpool worry Klopp

Liverpool manager Klopp (L) shows his appreciation to the fans after winning over Cardiff on October 27, 2018. /VCG Photo

Despite the impressive margin of victory, Klopp said his side have to “sort” their concentration levels after missing out on a 10th successive home Premier League clean sheet.

“If somebody would have told me 4-1 before the game I would have taken it, even without the clean sheet, but staying on the highest concentration level is a challenge for us. We have to sort it."

“Yes, conceding the goal was not nice, but it woke us up. Ninety minutes in the creative mood costs you. The boys don't like it, I don't like it, but the goal helped because at 2-1 Cardiff started believing and we used the space for nice goals.”

“In my whole life I wanted to be top for 24 hours,” he joked ahead of rivals Manchester City's fixture at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday. “Not too decisive but 26 points is good.”

While Liverpool are top and 10 points better off than at the same stage of last season, Cardiff have endured a difficult return to the top flight, picking up just five points from their opening 10 matches.

“Anfield is an intimidating place,” manager Neil Warnock said. “Our fans were fantastic. They know we are up against it. The lads gave everything."

“It was so quiet when Paterson scored, you had to dream of a comeback. We're limited but improving, and the fans are with us.”

Source(s): Reuters