Mohamed Salah’s winner saw Liverpool win a five-goal thriller against Nottingham Forest at Anfield to boost their hopes of claiming an unlikely Champions League place.
Both sides provided a sharp contrast to a drab, goalless first half with a second half end-to-end classic that saw Diogo Jota grab a brace with former Liverpool man Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White twice equalizing for Steve Cooper’s relegation-threatened side.
Egyptian goal king Salah’s 16th Premier League goal of the season put Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead for the third time – a goal Nottingham Forest had no response to.
Forest have now picked only three points from 11 games since their last victory against Leeds United in February, losing four games in a row and all three since a statement released by owner Evangelos Marinakis in support of Cooper.
The Reds have now gotten successive wins since pulling a comeback in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal a fortnight ago.
With Tottenham Hotspur still to play at Anfield at the end of the month and Newcastle United’s recent struggles, Klopp’s men cannot be dismissed from the top-four race.
Elsewhere, Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho’s man-of-the-match display saw Leicester City pull a 2-1 win over Wolves to increase their chances of beating the drop in Dean Smith’s first home game in charge.
The Foxes went behind after Matheus Cunha’s 13th minute goal but Iheanacho scored from the spot in the 37th minute and then Timothy Castagne scored a winner in the 75th minute to move them out of the relegation zone albeit on goal difference.
Leeds United sank deeper into relegation waters after Andreas Pereira’s maverick display saw the Cottagers win 2-1.
A goalless draw at the Selhurst Park between Crystal Palace and ten-man Everton increased the worries of the Toffees as they struggle to avoid relegation.