Liverpool may have left it typically late to seal Champions League qualification but their farewell to the Premier League season and warm-up for Real Madrid was otherwise faultless. Mohamed Salah began a comprehensive win over Brighton with a record 32nd league goal of the campaign and Kop favourite Andy Robertson capped it with his first for the club. Anfield could only admire the exhibition in between.
Jürgen Klopp had called for one last push to clinch a place among the European elite for the second successive season. His team delivered when it mattered, as they have throughout a campaign that has restored Liverpool’s status as a Champions League side to be feared, although in truth this was a sunny Sunday-afternoon stroll against a team that, with safety assured, have had their own campaign to cherish. Liverpool’s thoughts now turn to Kiev. Their supporters are already dealing with that reality and the £1,000 costs of flights to Ukraine. “Thomas Cook Sport Touts” read one banner on the Kop before kick-off, a reference to the exorbitant prices being charged by Liverpool’s official travel partner.
Written by Andy Hunter at Anfield
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/13/liverpool-brighton-premier-league-match-report under the title “Liverpool clinch fourth after Mohamed Salah kickstarts romp against Brighton”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.