Mohamed Salah registered his first goal for Liverpool since New Year’s Day as they beat Brentford 4-1.
The victory means the Jurgen Klopp’s side opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Salah came off the bench to replace the injured Diogo Jota in his first Liverpool appearance since their win over Newcastle on New Year’s Day.
The 31-year-old who just returned from the hamstring injury he sustained on Egypt duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, got on the scoresheet with a superb finish.
He made up for lost time with his first goal for the Reds since the Newcastle game.
Darwin Nunez put Liverpool ahead with a remarkable strike before Alexis Mac Allister poked in a second at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Ivan Toney pulled a goal back for Brentford, but Cody Gakpo added the gloss for Liverpool.
Manchester City and Arsenal will move back to within two points of Liverpool later on Saturday if they beat Chelsea and Burnley respectively.
The only sour point for Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was more additions to a lengthening injury list despite the valuable victory.
Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota limped off before half-time, while Nunez was substituted at the interval.
With Liverpool playing the League Cup final against Chelsea on February 25 and equally competing in the FA Cup and Europa League, the injuries could erode Klopp’s hopes of a trophy-filled farewell season.
