Huddersfield 0-1 Liverpool: Salah strike seals victory for Reds over valiant Huddersfield
Relive all the action from the John Smith's Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Mohamed Salah finally returned to the lethal form Liverpool fans have come to expect after his first half strike sealed an unsteady victory against a valiant Huddersfield.
It was a serene rekindling of old Dortmund ties between Jurgen Klopp and David Wagner who conducted their post-match interviews as a pair but on the pitch Liverpool were decidedly sloppy and Huddersfield will rue a number of missed opportunities that could have dragged them out of the drop zone.
Salah's 50th Premier League goal came in the 24th minute after a deft ball by surprise Swiss starter Xherdan Shaqiri teed him up for a neat finish into the bottom corner.
The Egyptian reacted to his first goal for four games with a mixture of ecstasy and relief but it was then Huddersfield who began to take a foothold in the match when many might have expected this season's more ruthless Reds to add to their tally.
Jonathon Hogg belted a long-range effort against the post and just minutes later Alex Pritchard thought his close-range chip over Alisson had levelled the match before being ruled narrowly offside.
The pattern continued in the second half as Huddersfield continued to spurned opportunities which might have changed the fate of the game.
Jurgen Klopp brought on Fabinho to try and reinforce the protection in front of Liverpool's defence but even then Huddersfield substitute Steve Mounie wasted a glorious chance with less than ten minutes to go when the ball fortuitously bumbled to him in the box only to wildly thrash it skyward.
The victory put Liverpool back on equal footing with Manchester City, who walloped Burnley earlier in the day, and two in front of Chelsea after their draw with Manchester United.
Huddersfield, however, remain winless in nine and sit in the uncomfortable saddle of the relegation zone with just three points.
Relive all the action below.
42 minutes
HUGE PENALTY APPEAL!
Jonathan Hogg heads a ball from the edge of the 'D' and the ball squeezes between James Milner's thigh and arm.
No penalty given...
43 minutes
Huddersfield have the ball in the back of the net, but Alex Pritchard is just, just offside.
He took it brilliantly, lifting a bouncing ball past Alisson rushing out, but it won't count.
44 minutes
Mohamed Salah at the other end now, standing one up to the far post.
The ball is flying out of play anyway and Adam Lallana can't direct the floated cross towards goal.
Goal kick.
45 minutes
Another Philip Billing long throw to be powered into the box.
Cleared. Alex Prichard to deliver from the other side...
Claimed by Alisson.
Two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the half.
Half time at the John Smith's Stadium, and Huddersfield can count themselves unfortunate to be 1-0 behind. They've rattled the woodwork, had a very close offside decision not go their way and given things a real go against their fancied visitors. But Mohamed Salah's 24th minute goal leaves Liverpool 1-0 up through the first 45 minutes.
A change for Liverpool - Jordan Henderson is off and Georginio Wijnaldum comes on in midfield.
The second half is underway.
47 minutes
Wijnaldum has slotted straight in in the very centre of Liverpool's midfield.
48 minutes
Daniel Sturridge curls quite a way over the bar cutting in on his left foot 25 yards from goal.
50 minutes
Jonathan Hogg is fortunate to escape a booking after raking his studs down Georginio Wijnaldum's achilles.
Jordan Henderson has a tight hamstring, hence Wijnaldum's introduction. Jurgen Klopp was likely influenced by Liverpool's imminent Champions League action, too.
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