Liverpool 4-1 Cardiff: Report, Ratings & Reaction as Salah Stars in Rampant Reds Win

​Goals from Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri and a brace from Sadio Mane more than cancelled out Callum Paterson's second half effort as Liverpool ran out 4-1 winners against Cardiff at Anfield. 

It took just ten minutes for Liverpool to take the lead, Salah on hand to score his fifth league goal of the season with a finish from close range following some last ditch defending from Cardiff to initially deny the home side. 

The hosts dominated the entirety of the first half, and had further chances to add to the scoreline, as Vigril van Dijk's header glanced off the post, while Neil Etheridge was alert to thwart Salah.

Neil Warnock's side almost had the perfect start to the second half when they had the ball in the net from a free kick, although Sean Morrison was adjudged to be offside in the buildup as he nodded his header back across goal. 

Despite Liverpool failing to match the same intensity they played with in the first half during large spells of the second period, Sadio Mane gave the Reds the cushion of a 2-0 lead in the 66th minute, as he managed to find space in the area before firing past Etheridge in front of the Kop. 

Liverpool were made to sweat in the final 12 minutes however, when Callum Paterson poked the ball past Alisson, after Junior Hoilett's cross took a deflection off Van Dijk, to set up a nervy finish, before goals from Xherdan Shaqiri and a sublime second from Mane in the final six minutes made sure of all three points. 

 LIVERPOOL

​Key Talking Point 

Jurgen Klopp's side were fabulous in the first half, although had only one goal to show for it as their performance wasn't being reflected in the scoreline until Mane's first goal. Paterson's goal will have irked the German though, as his side should've been out of sight by that point.

Fortunately, Liverpool rallied and made sure of the win with two goals in the final six minutes, which their play ultimately deserved, especially for their intensity and dominance in the first half.  

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Alisson (5); Alexander-Arnold (6), Lovren (6), Van Dijk (6), Moreno (5); Wijnaldum (7), Fabinho (6), Lallana (5); Salah (9*), Firmino (6), Mane (8). 

Substitutes: Shaqiri (8), Milner (6).

STAR MAN

Mohamed Salah has definitely returned to form after a slow start to the season, as the Egyptian was instrumental in the win at Anfield.

With one goal and two assists, Salah was a threat all afternoon with his runs in behind or his involvement in the buildup, and looks like the man who starred for Liverpool last season

WORST PLAYER

While Adam Lallana was given 61 minutes as he looks to build his fitness up, there was little to excite Liverpool fans during his time on the pitch. 

The England international looked to make runs from midfield, although his touch was off and couldn't make a meaningful impact on the game before being substituted. 

CARDIFF CITY

Key Talking Point

Cardiff's game plan was clear from the off, as they looked to hang on for a point, but that had to change after just ten minutes. 

While the tactics from Neil Warnock looked negative, especially when Mane made it 2-0, the approach kept them in the game – and when Callum Paterson made it 2-1 with 12 minutes to go, his decision to be defensive looked to have given them a chance.

Two quick goals in the final six minutes put an end to that, although Warnock wasn't exactly confident his side would get anything before the game. 

Player Ratings

Starting XI: Etheridge (6); Manga (5), Morrison (6), Bamba (5), Bennett (5); Hiolett (5), Camarasa (5), Gunnarsson (5), Murphy (6); Reid (5), Paterson (7*).

Substitutes: Damour (5), Harris (6), Zohore (N/A). 

STAR MAN 

Feeding off scraps for large parts of the game, Callum Paterson took his chance well in the second half, and was a willing runner for Cardiff all afternoon.

​WORST PLAYER 
​
Despite providing the cross for Cardiff's goal, Junior Hoilett provided little else during the game with him lacking the quality in the vital moments on too many occasions. 

Looking Ahead 

Liverpool face a tough trip to north London next weekend when they face Arsenal, while Cardiff play host to Leicester.