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Liverpool showed why they deserve to be the top of the Premier League with one of their best performances in the Jurgen Klopp era at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both bagged braces to down Palace 7-0 at the Selhurst Park.
It was the Reds' biggest-ever Premier League away win. How they managed to keep a clean sheet, despite attacking incessantly and without key defensive figures, makes this massive victory even more special.
Takumi Minamino opened the scoring in the third minute with a nice finish, as he opened his account in the English top-flight. It was one-way traffic after that, but the second goal didn't come until the 35th minute. Palace tried to counter, just like Spurs did in their last game, but Sadio Mane's goal brought an end to their brave efforts.
Roberto Firmino continued his impressive form for the club with a goal just before the half-time whistle. It seems the team that has struggled to find a rhythm this term got all of their players to sing together in harmony today.
After the break, Jordan Henderson, who played like a true midfield general, got on the scoresheet just seven minutes after. Firmino got his second of the game in the 68th minute, with substitute Mo Salah providing the assist. That was before he bagged a quick-fire brace of his own in the 81st and 84th minute.
It was much more than total domination for the Reds, who played the best football in the Premier League so far in this troubled year. The only things missing were the joy of the visiting fans for this memorable win.
Here are five talking points from Selhurst Park.
#5 Liverpool secure their biggest-ever top-flight away win
Jurgen Klopp celebrated winning The Best FIFA Men's Coach Award in style and inspired his players to record their biggest top-flight away win in their history. Liverpool are no strangers to thrashing Crystal Palace, having beaten them 9-0 in the 1989-90 top-flight season.
This season, the reigning champions have suffered on their travels, accumulating four draws and a 7-2 loss to Aston Villa. Tonight, they ended their dismal away record and went six points above Spurs, albeit temporarily.
#4 Mohamed Salah creates new record from the bench
It was a brave decision by Klopp to bench their top goalscorer this season, Mohamed Salah, for this away fixture, given Liverpool's struggles in their travels.
However, his players ensured that the absence of the Egyptian winger was not felt on the pitch, as they had already scored four goals before Salah was introduced on the pitch.
Salah was introduced in place of Mane, who had assisted and scored twice in the first half, in the 57th minute. The 28-year-old found himself in the thick of things just 11 minutes after his introduction, as he laid the assist for Firmino's second goal of the day.
He displayed a striker's instinct to latch onto a ball from Joel Matip following a corner and steer the ball just beyond the reach of Vicente Guaita to open his account in the 81st minute. He got his second to send Liverpool into the seventh heaven, curling an effort that went in after hitting the inside of the post.
#3 Jurgen Klopp has won more Premier League games than any other Liverpool manager
Liverpool’s 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace means Jurgen Klopp has now won more Premier League games than any other Reds boss. It was the German manager's 127th victory in the Premier League, surpassing Rafael Benitez's tally of 126. Interestingly, Klopp reached the number in 196 games, as opposed to 228 games for Benitez.
It was a historical game for multiple reasons. Each of their goals were assisted by a different player, which is the first time that seven different names have assisted goals for one team in a Premier League match. Mo Salah also scored twice and assisted one goal to make a new record for a substitute.
Klopp can now aim for the all-time record, but that goal might prove too much for him.
#2 Roberto Firmino delivers another Man of the Match performance
Firmino impressed with his work rate tonight and showed intelligence in his passing and runs that helped dismantle Palace's defence. For his assist, he showed good awareness to be in the right place to collect a free ball, with his run during Liverpool's opener a testament to his quality and selflessness.
He now has three goals in his last two games and is hitting form at just the right time, as the busy period arrives before the new year. The Brazilian has struggled to find form in the final third this term and failed to justify his inclusion in every game early on in the season. He has now stepped up and three of his five goals, and one assist, have come in the last two games.
#1 Liverpool ensure top spot before Christmas Day
Teams that have been at the top of the table at Christmas usually go on to lift the title in recent seasons. Last season, the Reds were the leading team at this stage and went on to win the league. City did it in 2017-18, Chelsea in 2016-17, Leicester in 2015-16, and Chelsea again in 2014-15.
There are still several things that can affect the outcome of the league this season, with its tight schedule definitely primed to play its part. The Reds have done well to move above the competition, especially when they are struggling with an injury crisis. So, when they are back to full strength, they stand a chance to run away with the title again.
