Liverpool strutted to a 4-1 victory over Brentford to move five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and pile the pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal.
Darwin Nunez opened the scoring for the Reds in the first half before they stepped things up after the break, with Alexis Mac Allister, a returning Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo all on target at the Gtec Community Stadium. Yet Jurgen Klopp's side have more injury woes, with Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones both forced off in the opening 45 minutes - with Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai already on the treatment table.
The game started at a decent pace, with Neal Maupay dragging wide for Brentford in the fourth minute. Six minutes later, Liverpool almost opened the scoring when Conor Bradley forced a good save out of Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken before Jota's follow-up was also kept out.
Ivan Toney then threatened twice for Brentford as steered just off target in the 15th minute before Ibrahima Konate made a good block from the Bees striker on 20 minutes.
Liverpool were hit with a blow when Jones was forced off in the 34th minute. Yet a minute later, they broke the deadlock. Virgil van Dijk's clearance was intelligently header on by Jota into the path of Nunez, who nonchalantly chipped the onrushing Flekken to find the top corner to score his second goal in as many games.
However, the Reds suffered another injury as Jota was stretchered off in the 44th minute while Nunez was withdrawn at half-time with Cody Gakpo coming on. That didn't impact them at all, though, with Salah going close on his return from a hamstring issue as he prodded wide in the 51st minute with a chance he should have buried.
Salah, making his first Liverpool appearance since New Year's Day, did turn provider four minutes later when the Reds doubled their advantage. The winger picked out the run of Mac Allister, who displayed quick feet inside the box before he poked an effort beyond Flekken.
And in the 68th minute, the Reds wrapped up all three points when Salah got in on the act to bag his 19th goal of the season. Gakpo flicked on a long ball and the Egyptian outmuscled Brentford defender Ben Mee before producing an angled finish into the far corner.
Brentford did get a goal back in the 70th minute when Liverpool were caught out at the back. Serge Regulion's low drive was kept out excellently by Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher but Ivan Toney was on hand to finish the rebound.
But the away side would restore a three-goal cushion with four minutes remaining when they hit the Bees on the break, with Luis Diaz sliding in Gakpo to neatly finish.
Liverpool are now five points above Man City and Arsenal ahead of their respective games against Chelsea and Burnley. It was an impressive triumph, although Klopp will be somewhat concerned by the mounting fitness problems. Here's how we rated the Liverpool players.
1. Caoimhin Kelleher - 7
Didn't have too much to do in the first half but did what was required well. Unlucky not to have kept a clean sheet, with his save from Regulion's effort tremendous but the ball fell kindly for Toney. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
2. Conor Bradley - 8
Almost opened the scoring when he weaved his way into the area and had another effort tipped over the bar in the first half. Moved into a hybrid role after Salah's introduction and continued to catch the eye - he may even be disappointed he didn't hit the target with one effort. Solid defensively and subbed in the 83rd minute. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
3. Ibrahima Konate - 7
Got back to make a brilliant block to thwart Toney in the first half. However, perhaps caught slightly flat-footed for Brentford's goal. | Getty Images
4. Virgil van Dijk - 7
Solid in the first half and clearance would lead to the opening goal. Should have had an assist after the break when his clever header set Salah free. Maybe just out of position in the build-up to Brentford's goal. | Getty Images