Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool ran riot in a 4-1 win over West Ham.

Jurgen Klopp handed Sadio Mane his first start in over four weeks at the London Stadium and the Reds winger helped put his side ahead within 20 minutes.

Mane combined brilliantly with Salah on a counter-attack from a corner by the hosts, who were further behind moments later when Joel Matip headed home.

West Ham’s hopes of a comeback started off the second half with Manuel Lanzini’s deft chip over Simon Mignolet but it would prove to be short-lived.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opened his account for Liverpool straight from the kick-off before Salah rounded things off with a beautifully driven low shot.

Here were the key talking points from the London Stadium:

Dynamic duo back on song

 

There is far more to Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah than mere pace.

But on certain days, that speed helps make them unplayable against certain defences on certain days. Unfortunately for West Ham, this was one of them.

Granted, they will face sterner tests than a Slaven Bilic side not in the best of spirits at the moment but it should not take away from the pair’s brilliance.

No doubt Jurgen Klopp will have everything crossed that Mane comes back from Senegal duty match-fit and ready to destroy all wing-backs put against him.

Even Phillipe Coutinho’s absence went fairly unnoticed as Salah and Mane proved to be the only outlet really required to crack this West Ham defence in the end.

Salah again proved why he is one the league’s best summer signings and with Mane appearing back to full fitness, a devastating few weeks could lie ahead.

Klavan puts Lovren under pressure

 

Rarely has Ragnar Klavan looked as composed, both on and off the ball, as this.

It was a huge opportunity for the Estonian International to showcase his abilities to lay siege to threaten Dejan Lovren’s starring role on a regular basis.

Klavan showed more calm and positional awareness in the first half alone at the London Stadium than his Croation counterpart had exhibited all season.

Even Alberto Moreno seemed to improve with the presence of the former Augsburg man alongside him, who failed to put a foot wrong all afternoon.

Lovren will have looked on and wondered where his Liverpool future may lie.

Reds lack a true leader

 

Even after the third Liverpool goal, it remained a largely open game.

A better side playing with confidence would have made the visitors pay for the amount of gifted passes and wayward back-passes to Simon Mignolet.

No doubt Mignolet will probably not be the future Liverpool captain in waiting, but whoever does will need a stronger head and a calmness on the ball.

At times, Klopp’s players appear as though their feathers can be quite easily ruffled and without that sense of direction, it could reflect in future results.

Anfield’s teams of the past often boasted several leaders ready to run with the baton at a moment’s notice. It may be time a few of the current crop took note.

…but Henderson isn’t missed

 

Liverpool’s midfield has arguably not looked this upwardly mobile all season.

Georginio Wijnaldum and Emre Can simply kept the team ticking with forward passes and a technical ability on the ball that was almost previously unseen.

It will be interesting to see going forward how Klopp lines up his midfield options when Jordan Henderson is available for selection again.

But considering Can and Wijnaldum already appear so assured together, this game would surely offer compelling evidence for a changing of the guard.