Liverpool have stretched their winning run to six Premier League games by beating Brentford 1-0 at Anfield on Saturday evening.
The clash promised to be close, with both teams pushing for European qualification. Mohamed Salah's goal in the 13th minute gave Liverpool a welcomed lead, but the Bees continued to buzz on Merseyside until referee Anthony Taylor blew for full-time.
The result ensures Jurgen Klopp's side remain fifth in the Premier League, five points clear of Tottenham in sixth. As for Brentford, they are five points behind Brighton in seventh - the final European spot - although they have played three games more.
Here are the main talking points from Anfield...
1. Salah's century
Erling Haaland has broken plenty of records this season, but he is not the only Premier League forward making history at the moment. Salah added another glorious chapter to his Liverpool story on Saturday evening by scoring his 100th goal at Anfield.
His strike also took him level with Steven Gerrard on 186 for the Merseyside club - placing them joint fifth in the all-time record books.
It was a crucial goal too, as it gave Liverpool the advantage against Brentford. Fabinho, in acres of space on the edge of the box, chipped the ball into Virgil van Dijk to attack. The Dutchman then headed the ball across to Salah, who (eventually) bundled it into the net.
Salah now has 30 goals in all competitions this season, with 19 of those coming in the Premier League. Where would Liverpool be without him?
2. Jones bonus
Curtis Jones appeared to have a bright future ahead of him when he broke into Klopp's squad during the Premier League title-winning campaign three years ago. Sadly, the 22-year-old's career hasn't quite gone to plan, with injuries blighting his progress.
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Yet it appears there is some light at the end of the tunnel for Jones. He has now started Liverpool's last eight Premier League games and has significantly improved their midfield.
Klopp will still need to bring in at least one central midfielder this summer due to Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all coming towards the end of their contracts. Yet Jones' return has eased the pressure on Liverpool's recruitment team.
3. Trent watch
A lot of talk before Saturday evening's game centred around Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has experienced an indifferent campaign. The Liverpool right-back has faced criticism for his defending, but few pundits have ever questioned his ability on the ball.
Since April 9, no Premier League player has provided more assists, created more chances, completed more passes in the opposition's half, entered the opposition's box more times, won possession more often or had more touches of the ball than Alexander-Arnold.
Those staggering statistics were personified against Brentford. Alexander-Arnold's first moment of magic came in the 19th minute, when he switched the ball on the half-volley into the path of Andy Robertson. Most players could only dream of emulating that pass.
Moments later, Alexander-Arnold should have had his ninth Premier League assist of the season after chipping a perfect ball over the top of the defence for Darwin Nunez. Yet the Uruguayan failed to hit the target from just seven or eight yards out.
Ignore the critics. He's some player, Alexander-Arnold.
4. Stubborn Brentford
Klopp would have been expecting a tough game... and Brentford did not disappoint. Thomas Frank's side threatened Alisson's goal throughout the evening and came close to scoring when Bryan Mbeumo left Virgil van Dijk in all sorts of bother just before half-time.
The move started when Ivan Toney played a ball in behind the defence for Mbeumo to attack. The Cameroon international turned Van Dijk, ran through on goal and calmly found the net - only for the offside flag to deny him. VAR confirmed it was a close decision.
Brentford were also solid at the back and made Liverpool's glamorous attack look ordinary at times. They will be disappointed to leave Anfield empty handed.
5. Never write Liverpool off
Somehow, there is now just one point separating Manchester United in fourth and Liverpool in fifth. Although Erik ten Hag's side have two games in hand on their bitter rivals, there is no doubting Klopp's men have plenty of momentum for the run-in.
Their final three fixtures are all winnable, as they travel to relegation candidates Leicester and Southampton with a home game against Aston Villa sandwiched in between. Liverpool's revival is reminiscent of the 2020/21 campaign, when they picked up 26 points from their final 10 Premier League games to climb from eighth to third in the table.
The Reds are still likely to miss out on a top-four finish, but they would send a huge message to the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal if they can finish the campaign with a nine-game winning run. At last, they are starting to look like title contenders again.
The future is bright, Liverpool fans.
