Liverpool inch ever closer
Liverpool have moved within five wins of ending their 30-year title drought in the English top flight.
Sadio Mane produced the sole moment of quality as Liverpool fended off Storm Dennis and Norwich for a 1-0 win that sent them 25 points clear at the top of the English Premier League yesterday.
Mane climbed off the bench to net his 12th league goal of the campaign and extend Liverpool’s winning streak to 17 top-flight matches.
Mane delivered with a lovely touch to control Jordan Henderson’s ball over the top and strike in the 78th minute.
It was a fine way for Mane to mark his first Liverpool action since hobbling out of a 2-1 win at Wolverhampton on January 23. ‘‘It was not easy,’’ Mane said. The runaway leaders edged closer to their first top flight title since 1990 by grinding out a nervy win, amid howling winds and driving rain.
‘‘We knew it would be difficult coming here even though they are bottom of the league,’’ Henderson said.
Manchester City, the secondplaced defending champions, play West Ham Thursday.
All Whites striker Chris Wood could face a spell on the sidelines after being forced off the field with a hamstring injury in Burnley’s 2-1 win over Southampton.
Wood’s replacement Matej Vydra scored a stunning strike – his first premier league goal for 17 months – to earn Burnley the win. The Czech international replaced Wood in the first half after the Kiwi forward pulled up lame in the 20th minute.