Reds go goal crazy against Hull City

Adam Lallana broke the deadlock and the floodgates opened after Ahmed Elmohamady was sent off for handling Philippe Coutinho's shot.

James Milner converted the resulting penalty and Sadio Mane added a third before the break.

Loris Karius enjoyed a quiet Premier League debut after being picked in place of Simon Mignolet but he was denied a clean sheet when David Meyler pulled one back for Hull early in the second half.

Liverpool hit back strongly with a stunning long-range strike by Coutinho followed by a second penalty from Milner as Jurgen Klopp's men sealed a third successive league victory.

The Reds dominated from the start with Joel Matip nodding over before Coutinho prodded goalwards, only for Elmohamady to hack off the line.

The Reds were first to everything and the breakthrough arrived on 17 minutes.

Coutinho exchanged passes with Milner and picked out Lallana, who turned and poked the ball past David Marshall and into the corner.

It was the England international's third goal of the season and the Kop chanted his name vociferously.

Liverpool continued to push forward in search of greater reward – moving the ball at pace and repeatedly finding a way through the overworked Hull backline.

Just before the half-hour mark it was effectively over as a contest.

Coutinho's goalbound shot was handled on the line by Elmohamady.

The full-back was dismissed and Milner made the penalty count as he fired past Marshall.

Liverpool were rampant with Mane's deflected strike hitting the bar and then Gini Wijnaldum's 20-yarder was parried away by Marshall.

Nine minutes before the break it was 3-0. Lallana picked out Mane, who was given time and space on the edge of the box and made Hull pay as he drilled into the bottom corner.

For the most part Loris Karius was a spectator but the German keeper didn't cover himself in glory when Hull pulled one back early in the second half.

Karius remained on his line as Robert Snodgrass swung a corner towards the six-yard box and the ball dropped to substitute Meyler, who rammed it home.

Liverpool's response was swift as within seconds their three-goal cushion was restored.

Lallana found Coutinho 25 yards out and the Brazilian worked it on to his right foot before whipping an unstoppable strike beyond Marshall.

Wijnaldum volleyed straight at the keeper before Klopp sought fresh legs with Daniel Sturridge on for the outstanding Lallana.

With 19 minutes to go it was 5-1. Sturridge was tripped in the box by Andrew Robertson and Milner duly bagged his second of the afternoon from the spot.

Emre Can and Marko Grujic replaced Henderson and Coutinho as the contest fizzled out late on.

Source: Liverpool Echo

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