English Premier League
Result: Liverpool 4-1 Cardiff
Date: 27 October 2018
Venue: Anfield
African stars Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah played starring roles as Liverpool thumped Cardiff City 4-1 to move top of the Premier League.
Jurgen Klopp made a couple changes from the UEFA Champions League win midweek, as Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno were drafted into the staring line up.
The Reds got off to the perfect start when Salah converted from close range, after Sadio Mane and Wijnaldum saw their earlier efforts blocked.
The lead went close to being doubled moments later, but Virgil van Dijk saw his header crash against the woodwork before Cardiff managed to clear.
After long spells of domination, the Reds went agonisingly close when Moreno's cross found Adam Lallana, whose header was cleared off the line.
After a quiet start to the second second stanza, the Reds doubled their lead in the 66th minute as Mane showed great persistence in the box before rifling the ball beyond Etheridge.
Ten minutes later, Cardiff pulled a goal back. Junior Hoilett's cross deflected into the path of Paterson, who slotted past Alisson Becker from close range.
The Reds restored their two-goal advantage in the 84th minute as Salah turned provider to pick out Xherdan Shaqiri, who placed the ball into the far corner from 10-yards out.
Mane rounded off the scoring two minutes later, latching onto a pass from Salah before firing into the far corner to complete his brace.
