Liverpool fans already celebrating title after United win

After providing the assist, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson wasn’t going to miss out on joining the celebrations.

Even if it meant racing the length of the field to slide into Mohamed Salah.

By that time, on a freezing winter’s evening on Merseyside, Salah was shirtless, torso exposed to the chill. The Liverpool jersey had been ripped off as the striker celebrated in front of the Kop after running onto Alisson’s long ball at the halfway line and scoring with the final kick of Sunday’s game against Manchester United.

It completed a 2-0 victory, and Salah’s exultation seemed like an unburdening for an uneasy Liverpool. However, it was anything but that for a team now 16 points in front at the top of the Premier League and 16 games remaining.

“The thought came to my mind that I would not score today,” Salah said. “But I came back mentally, I prepared myself, to keep calm.”

The slender score until stoppage time — established by Virgil van Dijk heading in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner in the 14th minute — belied Liverpool’s supremacy over its fiercest footballing foe in a game that exposed the divergent paths the sides are on.

While United is 30 points behind in fifth place, Liverpool is ready to end a 30-year English title drought.

With a formidable lead and a game in hand on distant second-place champion Manchester City, Liverpool has started the title party.

At least the fans on the Kop have.

“Now you’re gonna believe us,” they sang after Salah put the ball past goalkeeper David de Gea in the third minute of stoppage time. “We’re gonna win the league.”

The players or their manager won’t join in the chorus. Not while there’s a mathematical chance of being part of what would be the greatest collapse in the English game…….read more

 

Source: AP News

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