Liverpool reclaimed the Premier League’s top spot with a 5-0 win over Huddersfield.

Naby Keita gave the hosts a flying start as they went ahead after just 15 seconds with a low effort by the Guinea which crept past Terriers goalkeeper Jonas Lossl.

The Reds’ lead was doubled on 23 minutes when Sadio Mane converted Andy Robertson’s cross with a close-range header after good work by Virgil van Dijk.

Mohamed Salah further extended the advantage on the stroke of half by lifting the ball over an advancing Lossl on the edge of the area and into an empty net.

Mane doubled his tally with another header, this time from a searching ball into Huddersfield’s box by Trent Alexander-Arnold for his 20th goal of the season.

Salah joined his attacking cohort in scoring a brace when he tapped in a Robertson cut-back late in the second half to round off a comprehensive rout.

With Manchester City not facing Burnley until Sunday, Jurgen Klopp’s side will retain their place as league leaders for over 36 hours at the very least.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Reds are quick off the mark

 

Late goals have been the order of business for Jurgen Klopp’s side this season but flying starts could soon be in vogue after Naby Keita’s quick-fire opener.

The Guinean’s 15-second strike is the fastest goal scored by any Reds player in Premier League history, beating Robbie Fowler’s 29-second effort in 1996/97.

You have to go back even further to find anyone to rival Keita with Paul Walsh’s opener after just 14 seconds against West Ham on August 27, 1984.

Better teams than Huddersfield will put up more resistance in the games ahead, not least Barcelona, but this was proof that it pays to be quick off the mark.

Salah and Mane fight it out for Golden Boot

 

A four-way tie remains likely for the Premier League’s Golden Boot but Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah seem intent on confining the contest to Anfield alone.

Two goals apiece saw the pair pull clear of their closest challengers, Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Both players broke through the 20-goal barrier against the Terriers and, for a time, Mane was level-pegging his attacking cohort with a goal in either half.

Not to be outdone, however, the Egyptian added another to his tally to take the overall lead and move two ahead of both Aguero and Aubameyang.

The way Mane and Salah are going, you would foolish not to back on a Liverpool one-two finish for the prestigious accolade by the close of play on May 12.

The Ox’s return makes up for lost time

 

Returning to action has been a long time coming for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

It proved an arduous road back for the midfielder from the cruciate knee injury sustained in last season’s Champions League semi-final first leg win over Roma.

He has also had to endure more than a fair share of setbacks in the process but Oxlade-Chamberlain’s long-awaited comeback proved well worth the wait.

A first appearance since April 24 last year, on in place of Georginio Wijnaldum, ticked all the boxes that many Kopites had been yearning to again see.

First touches were roundly cheered, not least when he bore down on goal but could not squeeze a shot past Jonas Lossl in the Huddersfield goal.

After 367 days of waiting, Oxlade-Chamberlain showed glimpses of what Liverpool can expect now that he is back fighting fit and rediscovering form.

Only one target in title run-in

 

Tempting as it may have been for some Liverpool fans to temporarily switch allegiances to Manchester United in midweek, there are no mixed messages now.

Jurgen Klopp’s side know that Manchester City remain in the box seat for the title but it will not come at the cost of their own diminished responsibilities.

Attempts to turn the focus on the reigning champions were stifled, with an attempted airing of Manchester-based chants drowned out early in the first half.

Anfield’s message is clear: Liverpool are still only focusing on themselves.