Mo Salah, the modern-day great

Just where would Liverpool be without Mohamed Salah this season?

In truth, it doesn’t bear thinking about.

The Reds were not looking convincing in their efforts of getting back into the game midway through the first half at The Hawthorns.

Sadio Mane’s chance aside, the visitors had huffed and puffed to little avail following Hal Robson-Kanu’s opener.

But as the ball was laid off to Salah on the edge of the box from Mane, one swing of his gifted left foot and Liverpool were back in it.

Salah wheeled away in celebration of his 31st goal of an incredible personal campaign.

Jurgen Klopp insists the No.11 is appropriately appreciated inside the Anfield bubble, but it is curious that the man dubbed the ‘Egyptian King’ is as overlooked as he is when the pantheon of Premier League greats are discussed in a wider context.

Now approaching the end of his fourth season at Anfield, a third Golden Boot is once more in his sights, as is a place in next season’s Champions League.

Salah’s goals have not only underpinned the most successful period of the 21st century at Liverpool, they have also pushed them to within touching distance of a competition they looked destined to miss out on just a couple of months ago.

For all the talk of returning defenders – not least the man mountain that is Virgil van Dijk – Salah’s presence in this Liverpool squad is the biggest indicator of why they will be able to once more duel it out for the game’s biggest honours next time out.

For Thiago’s next trick…

It’s been a difficult first season for Thiago Alcantara as a Liverpool player.

Arriving late to the party after the campaign was already underway, a COVID-19 diagnosis then came before a two-and-a-half-month lay-off following a tempestuous Merseyside derby in October.

His return to action coincided with Liverpool’s early 2021 dip and the Spaniard has looked a little lost as things have gone askew at Anfield.

At times too eager to involve himself in the rough and tumble of England’s top flight, it has taken some time before Thiago has started to settle.

Lately, though, the signs of his undoubted class have started to surface.

After an excellent showing against Southampton was capped off with his first Liverpool goal, the former Bayern Munich star was on song at Old Trafford on Thursday as the Reds won at the home of Manchester United for the first time since 2014.

And once again Thiago looked more like his old self, pulling the strings in trademark style here.

The Spain international went through his array of passes, poking, probing and dictating play in the midfield area.

One particular pass in the final 15 minutes to Andy Robertson was exquisite from all of 50 yards away before he was denied his second Reds goal by Sam Johnstone’s save.

Thiago’s next trick is a simple one; to maintain this level for the next week and then carry it through to pre-season, August and then beyond.

Alisson’s moment of history cannot be for nothing

There’s a new name to add to the long, long list of Liverpool goalscorers.

After 128 games for the Reds, Alisson Becker can now be added to the column for the historians who so diligently keep count.

The Brazilian is used to making eye-catching saves, but this last-gasp intervention here is in a different league entirely as far as Liverpool’s season goes.

The Reds were done for, their top-four hopes had surely fallen after a resolute West Brom had held on for dear life.

Alisson, though, had other ideas.

His near-post flick, deep into stoppage time, is just the sixth time a goalkeeper has scored in the Premier League and it’s one that takes a small slice of Anfield history too.

It’s the first time a Liverpool goalkeeper has ever scored and there are unlikely to be more dramatic circumstances if it ever happens again.

But this goal cannot become just a trivia question in years to come.

It has to mean something.

Liverpool simply must not allow this baffling, brilliant winner to become a mere footnote in this season-to-forget.

It has to be the catalyst that sparks a finish-with-aplomb to a Premier League campaign that has left Jurgen Klopp’s side battered and bruised.

Two more games await them this week and six points will almost certainly ensure they are in the hat when the Champions League draw takes place.

Wrap it up in style against Burnley and Crystal Palace and they will talk about Alisson’s goal for decades.