Xherdan Shaqiri opened his Liverpool account in a 4-1 win over Cardiff City.

Mohamed Salah’s goal-scoring renaissance continued as he fired home an opener at the far post after the visitors failed to deal with a Trent Alexander-Arnold delivery.

The Reds extended their lead after the interval when Sadio Mane unleashed a powerful shot from close-range as Neil Warnock’s side appeared down and out.

But the Bluebirds found a lifeline as Callum Paterson was able to reduce the deficit when he pounced on a Virgil van Dijk deflection of Junior Holiett’s cross.

However Shaqiri put the game beyond doubt as the substitute executed a slotted finish before Mane added his second of the game with a chip over Neil Etheridge.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Shaqiri has to always start

 

Xherdan Shaqiri’s early Liverpool career has been one of sheer unpredictability.

But even those familiar with the Swiss schemer’s fluctuating fortunes were taken aback by Jurgen Klopp’s decision to bench him after successive starts.

Against Cardiff, the hosts were comfortable yet not overly clinical in his absence. Within five minutes of his introduction, however, the Reds went further ahead.

It is no coincidence that Shaqiri’s growing presence in a second-half cameo led to an eventual onslaught that many feared would not be forthcoming in this game.

Klopp may still beg to differ but the best sort of impact player that the former Bayern Munich man can provide is from a starting position, not a bit-part.

Reds’ rearguard finally breached

 

Callum Paterson’s reducer for the visitors may have little bearing on the overall scoreline but it still constituted a feat of sorts for Anfield’s statisticians.

After over 15 hours’ of play, Liverpool’s defence was finally breached in the league at home; a run dating back to a 4-1 win over West Ham on February 24.

Klopp’s rearguard could not remain unbeaten for a full season. Even an all-conquering Manchester City shipped goals during last season’s title procession.

Had they succeeded in keeping out the Welsh side, they would have been set another club record of 10 clean sheets from their Premier League home form.

Victory carried plenty of positives, including a joint-best league start since 2008/09, but there will be frustration at another personal best falling by the wayside.

Salah and Mane silence ‘crisis’ talk

 

Crisis has been on everyone’s lips where Liverpool is concerned this season.

Mohamed Salah supposedly lacked his trademark fire power while Sadio Mane was struggling with his own previously irrepressible form in front of goal.

If the Egyptian had been struggling for goals before, the past week will have silenced the doubters with a haul of four from three games in all competitions.

Salah’s strike to break the deadlock was as instinctive as it comes from the Egyptian; pouncing at the far post to rifle past Neil Etheridge.

Mane also prospered against the Bluebirds, first as he fired one into the Kop net from close-range before later combining with Salah for a chipped finish.

If this is two-thirds of Liverpool’s attack in ‘crisis’, their best must be something else.

Onslaught a true mark of champions

 

A true mark of prospective champions is how they respond to setbacks and Cardiff’s deficit reducer was a perfect litmus test for Liverpool’s title credentials.

In years gone by, it normally would have meant a nervy finish for the Anfield faithful. Fingernails were often eroded as the game remained on a knife-edge.

No such danger this time around. Spearheaded by Shaqiri, Klopp’s side proceeded to run amok on the Premier League newcomers in emphatic fashion.

Returning to the league’s summit is not the only sign of Liverpool are again on the march. The current signs are that this title bid might be a successful one.