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Liverpool 5-0 Huddersfield: Jurgen Klopp's players continue to deliver

Will Man City slip up at Burnley? Watch live on Sky Sports Premier League from 2.00pm on Sunday; Kick-off at 2.05pm

Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk celebrate during Liverpool's 5-0 win over Huddersfield

Liverpool thrashed Huddersfield 5-0 at Anfield on Friday evening to move back to the top of the Premier League table yet again and maintain the pressure on Manchester City.

These Liverpool players continue to hit new heights, but will they get the reward at the end of this relentless title race?

Keita's record-breaking goal sums up his improvement

The breakthrough in Liverpool's previous game against Cardiff came from a set piece conjured up between the players during the game. This time it came from the training ground. It took just 15 seconds to score the opener against Huddersfield - the fastest Premier League goal ever by Liverpool - and it had all the hallmarks of something cooked up beforehand.

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Highlights from Liverpool's 5-0 win over Huddersfield in the Premier League

Naby Keita finished the move but he was also the one who dispossessed Jon Stankovic. "It's like he lets the ball go to Stankovic and then he presses," Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. "I am sure that must have been something that was spoken about in the team meeting before the game. To do that 15 seconds in looks like it was a set plan and it worked well.

"People talked about Naby Keita and what he was supposedly going to bring. People talked about goals and assists. This is one of the main reasons why Jurgen Klopp bought him. That pressing, that energy to get at people. It looks now like he's a major part of Jurgen Klopp's team. When he picks his best team, it looks like he is in it."

The Run In - Remaining fixtures

Date Liverpool fixtures Date Man City fixtures
April 28 Burnley (A) - SSPL
May 4 Newcastle (A) - SSPL May 6 Leicester (H) - SSPL
May 12 Wolves (H) May 12 Brighton (A)

Full-backs continue to play a huge part for Liverpool

Andrew Robertson took his assist tally for the season into double figures with his cross for Sadio Mane for Liverpool's second goal. It was just the latest example of an expertly-whipped cross from the left-back. Robertson has been doing it all season and the young man on the opposite flank is not too far behind the Scot in those assist charts either.

Andrew Robertson has the most assists by any defender in the Premier League
Image: Robertson has the most assists by any defender in the Premier League

It was not a cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold but a lofted pass over the top to Mohamed Salah that yielded Liverpool's third goal. That took his assist total to nine and briefly within one of Robertson until his team-mate on the left laid another goal on for Salah late on. No other defender in the Premier League has more than six assists.

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Mane and Salah in a goalscoring contest of their own

Of course, the assists only register as assists because Liverpool have players in attack who are able to finish the chances they provide. Mane and Salah scored two goals apiece with the absence of fellow forward Robert Firmino having no impact on their effectiveness. The battle for the Premier League golden boot could end up being between the pair of them.

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Salah may have been overlooked for the PFA Player of the Year shortlist but he leads the way with 21 goals now and is on course to retain the scoring award that he picked up last season. This was his 100th appearance for Liverpool in all competitions and his total of 69 goals is more than any other player has scored for the club in their first 100 games.

With his second goal of the night, another header, Mane also brought up 20 Premier League goals for Liverpool this season. That's more than any other player in the competition other than Salah. His total is arguably even more impressive given that there are no penalties included in his tally. Take out the spot-kicks and Mane has 20 to Salah's 18.

Liverpool's Sadio Mane has the most non-penalty goals of any player in the Premier League
Image: Mane has the most non-penalty goals of any player in the Premier League

An unwanted record could yet await Liverpool though

With Alisson making it 20 clean sheets at the other end of the pitch, it was a positive night all round for Liverpool but the record they really don't want is the one for the most points ever picked up in a Premier League season without winning the title. They have 91 now but will still be down to second spot on Sunday if Manchester City win at Burnley.

Live Renault Super Sunday

As brilliant as Liverpool have been, there are now only three games left for City to negotiate - that trip to Burnley, a home game against Leicester, and the final away day at Brighton. If Liverpool win their remaining games against Newcastle and Wolves, City will have had to win their final 14 games to deny them the title. Klopp can only wait and hope for a slip.

"I don't know if it will be Burnley, Leicester or Brighton." Klopp told Sky Sports. "I have no clue. I have no clue what will happen at Newcastle, if I am honest. I really don't think about it. If someone thinks we should be champions then we will be champions. If not, then not. We have to do our job and win the football games and then see what happens."

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