Liverpool v Cardiff City: Live matchday blog
Liverpool beat Cardiff City 4-1 at Anfield on Saturday to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane (two) and Xherdan Shaqiri got the goals for the Reds.
Full Time
And that’s that!
Liverpool move three points clear at the top of the Premier League thanks to an ultimately-comfortable 4-1 win over Cardiff City.
The Reds utterly dominated the first half, but only scored once before the break through Mohamed Salah in the 10th minute, with Virgil van Dijk hitting the post and Adam Lallana seeing a header cleared off the line.
Sadio Mane’s powerful strike midway through the second period looked to have settled it, although nerves were frayed slightly when Callum Paterson pulled one back for Cardiff with 13 minutes remaining.
However, Xherdan Shaqiri’s first goal for Liverpool – a clever, calm finish at the Kop end – and Mane’s second of the game sealed the points in the final 10 minutes.
Yes, Sadio!
An incisive Liverpool break ends with Salah sliding the ball into Mane's path and the No.10 nonchalantly dinking his second of the afternoon over Etheridge.
Goal
MANE!!!
Get in!
That should settle the nerves that were beginning to creep in around Anfield.
Salah feeds Shaqiri in the area and the No.23 shows superb composure to drift away from a tackle and slot in his first goal for the Reds.
Goal
SHAQIRI!!!
Goal
Cardiff pull one back as Hoilett's cross deflects to Paterson, who slides the ball past Alisson.
Substitution
Liverpool's second substitution sees Milner replace Firmino.
Bang!
There's a touch of fortune about how the ball fell to Mane with a ricochet as he tried to wriggle clear in the area, but the No.10's persistence paid off and he rifled an unstoppable left-footed shot back across Etheridge.
That's the second goal the Reds were craving.
Goal
MANE!!!
A first change for Liverpool, with Shaqiri replacing Lallana.
Cardiff have started the second half well and aren't letting Liverpool have it all their own way after the break.
Alisson hasn't been called into action yet, but the Reds could do with upping it a bit here.
Cardiff have a goal disallowed.
It came from Morrison nodding a free-kick back across goal - but the visiting captain was offside.
Kick-Off
Fabinho gets us restarted.
No changes for either side at the break.
Check out the Opta stats from that first half below...
Half Time
There goes the whistle to end the half, and Salah’s seventh goal of the season separates the teams at the break.
Liverpool dominated from the off and could be further ahead. Van Dijk hit the post with a header soon after Salah’s opener, and the Egyptian thought he should have had a penalty when he appeared to be wrestled to the floor in the box.
Lallana then saw a header cleared off the line in first-half stoppage time, but the Reds so far only have the one goal to show for their complete control of the match.
Off the line!
Lallana's header from Moreno's cross beats Etheridge, but Cardiff captain Morrison nods it away.
Five minutes plus added time to go until half-time here.
Can the Reds find a second before the break? They're trying, but Cardiff are making life difficult by defending deep and in numbers.
85.5%
That's how much of the possession Liverpool had in the first half an hour.
Domination.
A lovely, intricate move by the Reds ends with Alexander-Arnold sending a left-footed shot wide from 18 yards.
The hosts are very definitely pushing for a second here.
Not bad, Mo...
Was that a penalty?
Salah certainly thinks so, as he goes down under pressure while he backed into his marker.
The referee waves his appeals away, though.
Off the post!
Van Dijk is so close to adding a second, as he climbs highest to nod Salah's cross goalwards. However, the stand-in skipper's header hits the woodwork and bounces clear.
There's the breakthrough - and it's Mo who's got it, with his fourth goal in his last three appearances.
Mane and Wijnaldum see shots blocked after Alexander-Arnold had whipped in a cross from the right, but Salah is on hand to bury the rebound from close range.
Goal
SALAH!!!
Not much to report from the opening five minutes.
As you'd expect, Liverpool have had the lion's share of the ball, but they haven't worked Cardiff 'keeper Etheridge yet.
Kick-Off
And we're off.
Cardiff get us under way, with the visitors attacking the Kop end in the first half.
The teams are out and You'll Never Walk Alone rings around Anfield.
Kick-off is just moments away.
Snapped
This was the Reds arriving at Anfield a short while ago...
Inside the home dressing room...
How Opta see it...
And in opposition...
Here's how our opponents line-up.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool make three changes for the clash with Cardiff – Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Alberto Moreno come into the starting XI in place of Xherdan Shaqiri, Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson.
Virgil van Dijk is captain.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Moreno, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Substitutes: Mignolet, Matip, Gomez, Robertson, Milner, Shaqiri, Sturridge.
Gini on the mic...
Wijnaldum takes care of the pre-match media duties.
Looking glorious...
Fancy a flutter?
Here are the latest match odds, from Bet Victor.
Liverpool - 1/9
Draw - 10/1
Cardiff - 28/1
Click here to place a bet now.
Stat attack
Did you know...
- Avoid defeat today and Liverpool will extend their unbeaten run at home in the Premier League to 26 matches
- The Reds have not conceded a league goal at Anfield for 841 minutes - the club record is 934 minutes
- Mohamed Salah has scored 32 times in his last 34 Anfield appearances
Follow the Reds on GO
Speaking of LFCTV GO, did you know you can claim a month's free access when signing up?
Our on-demand video service brings you coverage of the Reds across all levels, with highlights, full match replays, live Academy games, exclusive interviews, features, behind-the-scenes content and much, much more.
Inside Training
Take a look at how Liverpool's preparations for this game got under way with our footage from Thursday's training session at Melwood on LFCTV GO...
Weather
*Drum roll*
It's your official Liverpoolfc.com matchday weather update™.
You don't often see largely clear skies in late October but that is the picture above Anfield at present. There's a pesky wind too, however, so it's worth taking precautions with that in mind if you're heading to the stadium in the next few hours.
Cover star
Roberto Firmino adorns today's official matchday programme...
Pick up a copy at Anfield today or click here to subscribe online.
Fastest man to 50
Mohamed Salah made Liverpool history when he scored his 50th goal for the club in midweek - on just his 65th appearance. That's the fewest games ever taken to reach the half-century for the Reds.
Here's our top picks from the collection...
Klopp's Cardiff warning
In his programme notes for the match, the boss has explained why Liverpool's previous two outings could serve as ideal preparation for the tough battle they'll face against Neil Warnock's side today.
"I think we know today we are in for a real battle - if we don't recognise this and respond to this then we are foolish. Our last two fixtures should prepare us well for this afternoon. We learned against Huddersfield and Red Star that having healthy respect for your opponent's strengths is important, because you realise before the whistle goes you need to work harder than them to win. This is mandatory."
How it stands
Victory this afternoon would move Liverpool clear at the top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City not in action until Monday night. Here is a reminder of today's games and the situation near the summit...
Sean Cox appeal
Today's game has been dedicated to raising awareness of the Sean Cox fundraising appeal: https://www.gofundme.com/SupportSeanCox
Volunteers from LFC and Spirit of Shankly will stage a bucket collection before kick-off; collectors will be stationed at various locations around the stadium.
All funds raised for the appeal at the match today will be matched by LFC Foundation.
The manager's view
If you missed Klopp's pre-match press conference on Friday, do not worry. You can catch up with everything the boss had to say about Cardiff, injuries and much more through the magic of YouTube...
Team news
So, what do we know ahead of kick-off?
Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita are again ruled out for Liverpool but Jürgen Klopp has no other new injury concerns for the game.
Joe Ralls is suspended for Cardiff while there are fitness doubts over Harry Arter, Gary Madine and Josh Murphy.
The confirmed teamsheets will be revealed around 2pm BST today and we will, of course, have them here immediately.
Tale of the tape
Take a look at all of the numbers behind these teams' Premier League seasons so far with our handy interactive Opta widget below...
2018-19 2018-19
Welcome
Hello and a warm welcome to our latest live matchday blog.
The Reds are back to Premier League duty today, with Cardiff City the visitors to Anfield for a 3pm BST kick-off.
Stick with us throughout the day for build-up, team news, updates, reaction and much more.