Mohamed Salah finally rediscovered his form – unfortunately too late for Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes – as Tottenham were dispatched in an occasionally slapdash 4-2 victory at Anfield.
A week ago it was all about the Egyptian off the pitch, with his touchline disagreement with Jurgen Klopp spilling over into his incendiary comment in the mixed zone which did little to calm the row.
But, restored to the team, Salah was in the form prior to his January hamstring injury, engaged from the start and scoring the opener to become the club’s record goalscorer against Spurs.
🇪🇬👑 pic.twitter.com/83vaoxxTQw
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 5, 2024
He provided the assists for Andy Robertson and Harvey Elliott to net the second and fourth and gave makeshift left-back Emerson Royal such a torrid time the defender found himself being singled out by team-mate Cristian Romero as they walked off at half-time, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario separating the pair.
While Romero was seemingly the only Tottenham defender willing to put his body in the way he was not without fault as he was easily outjumped by Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s third.
The disorder within the Spurs ranks was only exceeded by the party atmosphere at Anfield on the occasion of Klopp’s penultimate appearance here as manager.
However, although confidence was restored it was all ultimately pointless as third place had already been secured by Aston Villa’s defeat earlier in the day and the celebrations were laced with regret at a missed opportunity in the title race.
Where was this form – of both Salah and the team – against Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham when the run-in was a critical point?
The irreversible damage was done in the last fortnight of April for Liverpool, who are five points behind leaders Arsenal.
Of course it is easier when the pressure is off but how those fans would love to relish a dash to the line instead of trying to drag out every last moment with their beloved manager.
Tottenham’s season also imploded over the same two weeks and a fourth successive defeat, having conceded 13 goals and scored just four, means they have failed to take advantage of Villa’s slips.
Hopes of Champions League football now look remote as they are seven points adrift of fourth with three matches to play and in greater danger of being caught by Newcastle.
Their record at Anfield – just two wins in the Premier League era and none since 2011 – did not offer much hope but the disorganisation and apparent disinterest within their ranks made their task impossible.
Emerson’s decision to completely ignore Salah, who had already had one shot saved and hit the crossbar and post, was ill-advised as the Egypt international, who started the move on the right wing, ghosted in to head in Gakpo’s deep cross in the 16th minute.
There was barely any celebration from Salah for his 25th of the season, 18th in the league, and ninth in the league goal against Spurs, passing the club record held by Roger Hunt, Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush.
On the stoke of half-time Robertson added the second after he diverted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross into the path of Salah, whose side-footed shot was pushed out only as far as the full-back.
Salah’s tame shot at the goalkeeper should have made it 3-0 before Gakpo’s hanging header from Elliott’s cross to the far post did, with Salah then teeing up Elliott for a rasping 25-yarder into the top corner.
But Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet since Nottingham Forest on March 2 and this was the ninth successive time they have conceded as the game took on a typical end-of-season exhibition flavour.
Substitute Richarlison slotted home a near-post shot and then Son scored at Anfield for the fourth consecutive time after the defence completely switched off.
Alexander-Arnold almost lobbed Vicario from inside his own half, Alisson Becker brilliantly denied Richarlison before the chaos was fittingly concluded by Salah having a goal disallowed for offside and substitute Darwin Nunez failing to beat Vicario when clean through.
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes described it as her “best title” after her side were once again crowned Women’s Super League champions having thrashed Manchester United 6-0 at Old Trafford in the final game of her tenure.The Blues finished top on goal difference ahead of second-placed Manchester City – 2-1 winners at Aston Villa – to make it five league titles in a row.It tak...
Des Buckingham pledged to try and keep Oxford hero Josh Murphy as the Wembley-born star scored twice in Oxford’s 2-0 play-off final victory over Bolton to earn promotion to the SkyBet Championship.Murphy’s first-half double sent United back into the second tier for the first time in a quarter of a century.The 29-year-old winger is now out of contract but Buckingham hopes Oxford’s...
Kevin O’Hara scored twice as Hamilton secured a place in next season’s cinch Scottish Championship by relegating Duncan Ferguson’s Inverness after a 3-2 play-off final victory.The visitors, who carried a 2-1 first leg lead into the game at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium, could hardly have got off to a better start when they found themselves 2-0 up on the night within 12 minutes o...
Wembley-born Josh Murphy fired Oxford United back to the Skybet Championship for the first time in 25 years as he scored both goals in his team’s 2-0 League One play-off final victory over favourites Bolton.Londoner Murphy’s first double in nearly five years came in the opening half as Des Buckingham’s side joined champions Portsmouth and Derby in the English second tier next sea...
Stranraer beat East Kilbride 3-1 after extra time at Stair Park to secure their cinch League Two status with a 5-3 aggregate win in the Pyramid play-off final.Lowland League champions East Kilbride had fought out a 2-2 draw in the first leg, but two late goals in extra time from Craig Ross and teenager Aiden Gilmartin proved enough to see the Blues retain their place in the Scottish Professional F...
Emma Hayes signed off as Chelsea boss in style as her side claimed a fifth successive Women’s Super League title with a 6-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford, finishing ahead of Manchester City on goal difference.Having started the final day of a thrilling title race with the same amount of points as City and a goal difference superior by two, Chelsea tore into their task agains...
Brendan Rodgers made sure he savoured trophy day at Celtic Park after getting his hands on the cinch Premiership silverware again.The champions rounded off their league campaign with a 3-2 win over St Mirren before Santa Claus delivered the trophy – six months after being booed while doing the half-time prize draw during a defeat by Hearts.They will aim to get their hands on another trophy n...
Boss Philippe Clement claims Rangers are intent on giving their supporters “something special” in next week’s Scottish Gas Scottish Cup final against Celtic at Hampden Park.Clement spoke after watching his side let slip a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Hearts in the final cinch Premiership game of the season at Tynecastle.Jambos skipper Lawrence Shankland scored his 31st goal of ...
Derek McInnes declared his Kilmarnock side Scotland’s team of the year after they ended their fruitful cinch Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Dundee.The Rugby Park side – who were 10th last year – will be involved in Europa League qualifying in July after finishing fourth, nine points clear of nearest chasers St Mirren.McInnes was keen to point out that Killie complet...
Luis Palma scored a late winner as champions Celtic twice came from behind to round off another successful cinch Premiership campaign with a 3-2 victory over St Mirren on trophy day at Parkhead.St Mirren captain Mark O’Hara twice gave the visitors the lead but goals from Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi had Celtic level at the break.The second half was a quieter affair but Palma conver...
- 1 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 2 Marc Skinner wants to stay at Manchester United after ‘historic’ FA Cup win
- 3 Sterling considering leaving the club
- 4 Major Liverpool star still an option for Real
- 5 Mourinho to join Fenerbahce?
- 6 Alex Scott looks stunning in bold see-through outfit
- 7 Celtic run riot against Kilmarnock to win another Premiership title
- 8 Ian Murray says Raith will improve for play-off final after shootout success
- 9 Marcus Rashford's new £700,000 Rolls Royce Wraith revealed
- 10 Dumbarton lead League One play-off final after home win over Spartans