Salah back to form as Liverpool enjoy slapdash victory over Spurs

Mohamed Salah finally rediscovered his form - unfortunately too late for Liverpool's Premier League title hopes - as Tottenham were dispatched in an occasionally slapdash 4-2 victory at Anfield.

A week ago it was all about the Egyptian off the pitch, with his touchline disagreement with Jurgen Klopp spilling over into his incendiary comment in the mixed zone which did little to calm the row.

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But, restored to the team, Salah was in the form prior to his January hamstring injury, engaged from the start and scoring the opener to become the club's record goalscorer against Spurs.

He provided the assists for Andy Robertson and Harvey Elliott to net the second and fourth and gave makeshift left-back Emerson Royal such a torrid time the defender found himself being singled out by team-mate Cristian Romero as they walked off at half-time, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario separating the pair.

While Romero was seemingly the only Tottenham defender willing to put his body in the way he was not without fault as he was easily outjumped by Cody Gakpo for Liverpool's third.

The disorder within the Spurs ranks was only exceeded by the party atmosphere at Anfield on the occasion of Klopp's penultimate appearance here as manager.

However, although confidence was restored it was all ultimately pointless as third place had already been secured by Aston Villa's defeat earlier in the day and the celebrations were laced with regret at a missed opportunity in the title race.

Where was this form - of both Salah and the team - against Crystal Palace, Everton and West Ham when the run-in was a critical point?

The irreversible damage was done in the last fortnight of April for Liverpool, who are five points behind leaders Arsenal.

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