'Salah lives for moments to pounce' - the press on 1-0 win

The Egypt international finished superbly after an inch-perfect pass from Xherdan Shaqiri in the first half at the John Smith's Stadium.

Here's the media's view on a win that saw the Reds keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table...

James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

If the ability to win ugly is a key trait of title contenders then Liverpool have that box well and truly ticked. This another triumph to be endured rather than enjoyed. The beauty of last season continues to elude Jürgen Klopp, but the Reds' knack of grinding out results will provide plenty of solace. The search for the swagger and fluency which was Liverpool's calling card en route to Kiev goes on, but in the meantime guts, spirit, resilience and organisation are dragging them over the line. Remarkably, with just three goals conceded in nine league matches, this represents the best start to a season defensively in the club's 126-year history. That's some way to mark the one-year anniversary of their humiliation at the hands of Tottenham at Wembley. The transformation since then – spearheaded by the shrewd signings of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker – has been stark. What was their Achilles heel is now their biggest strength. The Reds' current tally of 23 points out of a possible 27 equals their biggest haul at this stage of a campaign in the Premier League era. Liverpool are sitting pretty - despite the fact that they have yet to operate anywhere near the peak of their powers. There is so much more to come.

Peter Staunton, Goal.com

It was more of a contest than Klopp would have wanted against his old friend David Wagner. What was required was a touch of class to lift the Reds above the contest. And – mercifully for them – they got it. Salah has been a maligned figure at the start of this season. He is not scoring at the same rate that he finished last term. He is scoring more modestly, not unlike the start of his first campaign. However, judgements are made in an instant these days and there has been talk of a Salah crisis. Never mind that he went to the World Cup injured with the expectation of 98 million Egyptian people weighed upon his delicate shoulder. Never mind he’s been without a good rest. Never mind the fact that he’s a marked man now and there isn’t a football soul alive not aware of what he’s capable of. Salah would have needed to go to another level beyond last season’s greatness if he was to top his exploits this time around. That is difficult. Instead, he’s been working in the gaps as best he can. He’s living for moments to pounce. And in the first half he was supplied one. Joe Gomez cut two Terriers out with his pass to Shaqiri’s feet. He identified Salah as his target for the through-ball and his technique didn’t fail him. From there, Salah was calm in finding the bottom corner with his right foot.

Mark Jones, Daily Mirror

Xherdan Shaqiri's dynamism was in evidence during what was just his second Premier League start for his new club. Although Liverpool didn't function well in attack in the first period, he demonstrated exactly what their more workmanlike midfield had been missing this season with his drive forward and assist for Salah. These next few weeks promise to be big ones for the former Stoke man, and he's started them well. He's had most of the focus on him, but Salah could be forgiven for thinking that the other two members of Liverpool's famed front three deserved their fair share of criticism this season, but they haven't got it. He was without either of them until the closing stages here and he certainly missed their pace, but quietly he delivered an assured display as by far and away the most threatening player on the pitch. It was a brilliant finish for the goal, and it might be the start of a few more.

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