Arab icon Mohamed Salah keeps Liverpool's top four hopes alive

Mohamed Salah's landmark goal sealed Liverpool's 1-0 win against Brentford to keep its Premier League top four hopes alive on Saturday.

The Egypt forward's first half finish made him the first player in Liverpool history to net in nine successive games at Anfield, with his strike taking him to 100 career goals at the stadium.

He also moved level with Steven Gerrard's Liverpool tally of 186 goals, sitting in joint fifth place in the club's all-time scoring list.

For the third season in a row, Salah has reached 30 goals in all competitions.

"Mohamed Salah is special. A lot of people don't appreciate players when they are still playing. For us, it's clear. He is an all-time great," Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said.

"I can't see him stopping, that's just his nature. You need to have this desire to score goals.

"He works hard to close players down. We all know some world class players don't do that, but he does. I'm really proud of him."

Klopp's fifth placed team climbed within one point of fourth placed Manchester United after its sixth successive league victory.

United's defeat at Brighton in midweek has given Liverpool renewed hope of qualifying for the Champions League via a top four berth.

But United, who travels to West Ham on Sunday, has two games in hand and remain favourite to finish above their bitter rival.

"If Manchester United win their games in hand, then they are seven points away and it is pretty much done. We know that," Klopp said.

"It's an interesting period. We have to make sure we keep the teams behind us, behind us because they are coming. Nothing is decided and that's good."

Salah's memorable evening was partially overshadowed by the Liverpool fans who booed the national anthem just hours after the coronation ceremony for King Charles III at Westminster Abbey.

Liverpool said on Friday they would play the anthem prior to kick-off despite acknowledging "some supporters have strong views" on the subject.

As "God Save the King" was played, boos and jeers were eventually drowned out by chants of "Liverpool" from the home fans.

Liverpool supporters have repeatedly booed the anthem in recent years, most notably ahead of last season's FA Cup final.

UK government plans to leave the city to "managed decline" in the 1980s and the cover-up that followed the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, which caused the death of 97 Liverpool fans, have been cited as reasons for anti-establishment protest.

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