Liverpool topped the Premier League table with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Sadio Mane set a new Premier League record by scoring in a ninth successive game against the Eagles just before half-time courtesy of a close-range finish.

The forward’s 100th goal for Jurgen Klopp’s side was followed up in the 79th minute by Mohamed Salah, who powered home a volley in front of The Kop.

Substitute Naby Keita rounded off victory with a thunderous first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area after Vicente Guaita had punched clear.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Day of records made for Mane

Sadio Mane is no stranger to claiming lofty Premier League feats.

The fastest scorer of a hat-trick in the top flight headed into his latest clash with Crystal Palace aiming to etch another personal feat in the record books.

Another goal against would see him surpass Robin van Persie as the only player to plunder in nine consecutive outings against the same team.

At the end of a first half where Jurgen Klopp’s side had dominated chances but failed to make them count, the Senegal international finally left his mark.

Pouncing on a loose ball after Vincente Guaita palmed away Mohamed Salah’s header, Mane was on hand to turn home the follow-up at the near post.

Not only did he eclipse with a tenth goal in as many appearances against the Eagles, it also marked a long-awaited 100th goal for the Reds in the process.

Criticisms of Mane’s profligacy resurfaced following last weekend’s win at Leeds, where he hit the target just once despite enjoying a glut of chances.

But this was a timely reminder that the 29-year-old offers more than goals to this Liverpool side as he remained at the heart of their attacks all afternoon.

And if anyone would break the deadlock at the end of an even-sided first half, you would struggle to find many to bet against Mane with this opposition.

‘Ibou’ already looking at home

As debuts go, tangling with both Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke in the same afternoon is probably not high on the list of ideal scenarios for a defender.

Ibrahima Konate, however, rose to that exact challenge on his Liverpool bow.

Klopp resisted the temptation to throw his summer arrival from RB Leipzig in at the deep end for any of this season’s first five games in all competitions.

Instead, he waited until Saturday’s visit of Palace to hand Konate a baptism of fire and could not fail to be impressed with the display of his latest recruit.

The 22-year-old acquitted himself well for large parts of the game, most notably when handling the threat of former Kop marksman Benteke.

Just when it appeared the Belgian had stolen a march on his ex-employers, he was pushed out wide and nullified by astute defending from Konate.

At the other end of the pitch, too, he demonstrated his willingness to push forward as a regular presence whenever Liverpool were in set-piece territory.

Partnering Virgil van Dijk, himself marking a century of Premier League games in the Anfield ranks, is unlikely to become a rare occurrence for ‘Ibou’.

He already appears highly comfortable in his new surroundings.

Rotated pair step up in style

Anfield witnessed a rare quirk in their team’s starting line-up, which did not feature two of its mainstays in Trent Alexander-Arnold or Andy Robertson.

Illness ruled the England international out of this encounter while the Scotland captain was benched in favour of understudy Kostas Tsimikas.

It meant Liverpool headed into a Premier League game without either in their starting XI for the first time since a 3-1 win over Burnley in December 2018.

Such has been their ever-present status, Anfield had not seen their team line up without either full-back since a draw with Chelsea some 13 months earlier.

In their place, Tsimikas and James Milner proved more than able deputies.

Another showdown with Zaha while covering at right-back carried a risk of deja-vu for the veteran utility man after their January 2019 head-to-head.

On that occasion, Milner saw red for pulling back Palace’s talismanic winger but won the battle a second time around thanks to his defensive nous.

Tsimikas, meanwhile, continue to build on a solid start to the season when Robertson forewent games with Norwich and Burnley with an ankle injury.

The Greek international’s corner kicks also set the wheels in motion for two of Liverpool’s goals as Mane and Mohamed Salah scored either side of the break.

On the pair’s form alone, Klopp may be tempted to extend his rotation policy to more than these congested Champions League match weeks.