Reds back to winning ways as Salah sees off brave Terriers
Mohamed Salah got back on the goal trail as Liverpool won at Huddersfield Town to reaffirm their Premier League title credentials.
Salah slotted home his fourth goal of the season, and first in five matches, midway through the first half, but it was a far from convincing victory for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Much of that was down to Huddersfield, who matched their
illustrious opponents for long periods only to still be left searching for the killer touch.
David Wagner’s West Yorkshire side hit a post through Jonathan Hogg and then had an effort ruled out for offside as they set an unwanted club record of failing to score in seven straight home league games.
Liverpool were clearly not at their best as they clinched their first three- point haul in five matches in all competitions and extended their unbeaten league start to nine fixtures.
Neither side had registered an attempt on goal when Liverpool broke the deadlock in the 24th minute with two incisive passes and a consummate finish.
The visitors had just started to build up some pressure by retaining possession when defender Joe Gomez’s ball into Xherdan Shaqiri split Huddersfield down the middle.
The Swiss midfielder then spotted Salah’s darting run into the penalty area and he perfectly slipped the ball inside for the Egyptian to steer beyond Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl and inside the far post with the outside of his left foot.
Salah had been a fitness doubt all week after picking up the injury on international duty with Egypt, but overcame a muscle strain to make the starting line- up.
Huddersfield bravely stuck to their task, though.
Hogg’s brilliant long- range effort struck Alisson Becker’s right- hand post and Philip Billing’s free- kick flashed narrowly wide as they pressed for the equaliser.
The Terriers’ vociferous supporters raised the volume some more when Alex Pritchard turned home Hogg’s pass into the box in the 43rd minute, but his effort was correctly ruled out as he had strayed offside.
Georginio Wijnaldum, half- brother of Huddersfield substitute Rajiv van La Parra, replaced Reds skipper Jordan Henderson at half- time, while their striker Daniel Surridge lifted two efforts off target soon after play resumed.
Huddersfield impressed again in the build- up to Laurent Depoitre’s goalbound header, which was comfortably saved by Alisson, with Aaron Mooy, Mathias Jorgensen and Florent Hadergjonaj all involved.
Town skipper Christopher Schindler’s sliding near- post block thwarted Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson’s dangerous cross, but that was as close as the visitors got in the second period.
Huddersfield spurned their best second- half chance in the 82nd minute when their two substitutes combined.
Winger Isaac Mbenza’s cross bounced off Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren in the area and Steve Mounie snatched at his chance, firing off target from six yards.
The miss summed up Huddersfield’s season and while they remain without a win, Liverpool are still level on points with Manchester City at the top of the table.