LIVERPOOL GO TOP AS MANE SCORES BRACE

Sadio Mane scored twice as Liverpool survived a scare to beat Cardiff City 4-1 at Anfield as the Reds move top of the Premier League.

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the opening 10 minutes, Mane scored twice and Xherdan Shaqiri scored his first competitive goal for Liverpool.

Callum Paterson replied for Cardiff as Liverpool conceded their first home goal in 918 minutes at Anfield.

Liverpool moved above Manchester City to go top of the league after 10 games with the win.

Source: Daily Express

The Reds were dominant in the early stages and Salah made the pressure count at the third time of asking for the hosts.

Virgil van Dijk's header hit the outside of the post as Cardiff were hanging on at Anfield.

Mane doubled Liverpool's advantage after half-time with his thumping left-footed shot proving too powerful for Neil Etheridge.

But Cardiff were attacking well at Anfield and Paterson found a bit of space at the near post and toe-poked it through Alisson's legs to bring his side back into the game.

However, the glimmer of hope Neil Warnock's side had didn't last long at all with Shaqiri smartly finishing after some good work from Salah and Mane wrapped up the scoring with the Egyptian getting another assist.

---

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revealed that his players were "really disappointed" to concede their first goal in 918 minutes at Anfield.

"The boys are really disappointed with the goal we conceded," Klopp said. "It will happen one day.

"In that period, we were a bit sloppy, losing the ball here, losing the ball there. Cardiff could live with 1-0 or 2-0, as they know a set-piece can put them back in the game.

"But they did not get back in the game because we closed it with two wonderful goals. We are really happy - 26 points after 10 games is exceptional - so we are really happy."

Cardiff manager Warnock said that he is delighted with his team's efforts after saying before the game it is "virtually impossible" to beat Liverpool.

"We just made the wrong decisions in the first-half," Warnock said. "We had a great six or seven opportunities when running into their half, but we made the wrong decisions.

"I said at half-time, we have got a chance if we get the next goal, but unfortunately we didn't do that.

"We kept going, and you could tell by the quiet of the crowd that there was a game on, but to concede two late ones like that is a blow. The players gave it their best shot, and that is all you can ask really."