Mane scores 100th Liverpool goal in Palace stroll

SADIO Mane scored his 100th Liverpool goal as the Senegal star inspired a 3-0 win against Crystal Palace that sent his side top of the Premier League yesterday.

Mane’s milestone strike came in his 224th appearance for the Reds, breaking Palace’s rearguard action late in the first half at Anfield.

Egypt forward Mohamed Salah and Guinea midfielder Naby Keita netted in the second half to move Jurgen Klopp’s team three points clear of second-placed Manchester City.

It was fitting that Mane should make it to his century against Palace as he set a new Premier League record for the most consecutive games a player has scored against one opponent.

It was the ninth successive match that Mane had netted against Palace.

More importantly for Klopp, Mane already has four goals this term, suggesting he is ready to put last season’s disappointing personal campaign behind him.

Klopp’s men have opened the season with an unbeaten run of four wins from five games, with just one goal conceded and 12 scored.

Klopp switched his back four, with Virgil van Dijk returning, James Milner playing on the right instead of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas replacing Andy Robertson.

Initially, Liverpool seemed unsettled by Klopp’s alterations and Palace nearly took advantage of a defensive blunder that ended with Alisson Becker pushing Wilfried Zaha’s shot onto the post.

Diogo Jota led the Liverpool response as the Portugal forward fired across goal from a tight angle.

Jota missed an opportunity to break the deadlock, firing over after the ball was palmed out to him by Guaita. But Mane ended Palace’s resistance in the 43rd minute.

Salah’s header from Tsimikas’ corner was saved by Guaita and Mane pounced to slam the rebound past the Palace keeper.

Alisson had to make a save from Joel Ward’s drive to preserve Liverpool’s lead at the interval.

Palace were inches away from earning a second-half penalty when Conor Gallagher was tripped on the edge of the area.

Salah delivered the knockout blow in the 78th minute. Van Dijk helped on a Liverpool corner and Salah slotted in at the far post.

Keita, on as a second-half replacement for Thiago Alcantara, put the seal on Liverpool’s stroll when he volleyed in from the edge of the area in the 89th minute.

OTHER RESULTS:

Wolves 0 Brentford 2, Norwich 1 Watford 3, Burnley 0 Arsenal 1, Man City 0 Southampton 0.