MO SALAH returned from injury with a bang, only to have important Liverpool players switch places with him in the medical room.
Salah’s assist and goal in his first outing since a hamstring injury ended the game and secured the victory, keeping the Reds clear at the top of the table.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s ambitions of fielding a first-choice lineup in next weekend’s Carabao Cup Final were dashed three times.
Klopp had already lost Curtis Jones when Diogo Jota was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Salah.
Then Darwin Nunez, who scored the beautiful opening goal, did not return for the second half.
Alexis MacAllister doubled the visitors’ lead after Salah’s assist and the Egyptian made the most of Brentford’s poor defense to make it three.
With 15 minutes left, Ivan Toney pulled one back, but Nathan Collins made another mistake, allowing Luis Diaz to pass to Cody Gakpo for the fourth.
At least the number of goals outweighed the number of injuries, but if the margin at the top continues wide, Klopp’s options in the short and medium term are limited.
An open and appealing game opened with an opportunity for the Bees. Following a swift throw-in, Christian Norgaard found Vitaly Janelt unmarked in the box, but the midfielder’s shot was well off goal.
Mark Flekken, the home custodian, was quickly pushed into an excellent double save, first denying Conor Bradley’s cut shot and then blocking Diogo Jota’s follow-up.
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Brentford returned, and a great play concluded with Neal Maupay slipping the ball into Toney’s path, only for his strike partner to fire a left-footed shot well wide.
He soon sent a feeble free kick right into Caoimhin Kelleher’s arms.
When Maupay was released in the channel, he was unable to put enough on his shot when under pressure from Ibrahima Konate.
At the other end, Jota forced Flekken to make another quick stop.
Norgaard missed another clear chance before Liverpool seized the lead.
Flekken went from taking a free kick to pulling the ball out of the net in seconds.
The visitors cleared untidily with a kick by Virgil Van Dijk, but what followed was flawless.
Jota’s header was weighted and directed just where Nunez wanted it. The Uruguayan surged forward and delivered a wonderful chip over the Brentford custodian and under the crossbar.
However, the Reds suffered their second injury of the afternoon before halftime.
Curtis Jones was pushed off earlier, while Jota was taken out on a stretcher when Norgaard landed on him.
Salah entered to a rousing reception from the away fans.
The Egyptian King should have scored in the third of eight minutes of stoppage time, but Diaz’s cross simply deflected off him.
Worse news for the Reds came when Nunez did not return for the second half and was replaced with Gakpo.
Diaz, the only Liverpool attacker who deserved to be sent off, created an opening but blasted over the crossbar.
Then Salah squandered another excellent opportunity.
Van Dijk’s header put him clear through, but his hesitation to use his right foot caused him to fire a strange left-footed shot wide.
It doesn’t matter. Moments after, SAlah scored the second goal.
His pass found Mac Allister, and the Argentine World Cup winner outpaced Kristoffer Ajer before firing home.
Bradley, who was filling in for Alexander-Arnold, just cleared the bar on his own.
Liverpool were taking things too easy, so Brentford manager Thomas Frank made three substitutions.
Ajer’s block denied Diaz, giving Salah another assist. But he immediately established a goal.
Gakpo won the header over Ajer, who was subsequently let down by both of his centre back teammates.
Ben Mee simply left the ball for Salah to run on to, and when Nathan Collins arrived, he was unable to prevent Salah from shooting across Flekken to make it 3-0.
The Bees were given a glimmer of hope when Toney scored after Kelleher saved Sergio Reguilon’s shot.
However, the home team posed little threat until Collins committed another egregious defensive error.
The former Wolves man let the ball pass through him, allowing Diaz to find Gakpo and the Dutchman to score.
Flekken saved a late Harvey Elliott free kick, Van Dijk hit the crossbar, and Kelleher saved himself in the process, but Brentford’s performance was relegation-worthy.
Injuries could still have a significant impact on whether Liverpool wins a title this season.