Liverpool in rampant form as Spurs' top four hopes look doomed once again, writes JOE BERNSTEIN after Reds' 4-2 win

 Mo Salah returned with a goal and assist before Liverpool held off an unexpected Tottenham comeback in Jurgen Klopp’s penultimate game at Anfield.

Liverpool were in rampant form and Spurs shambolic in the first hour as Klopp’s side raced into a 4-0 lead. But the arrival of substitute Richarlison helped the visitors pull a couple of goals back to provide some late jeopardy.

All eyes were on Salah before kick off after he was restored to Klopp’s starting line-up after their bust-up at West Ham last weekend.

The Egyptian King headed Liverpool in front after 16 minutes and when his was shot was parried by Guglielmo Vicario on the stroke of half-time, Andy Robertson snaffled the rebound.

Spurs players bickered with each other at half-time and allowed Cody Gakpo to add a third soon after the restart. Harvey Elliott added a firecracker fourth before Richarlison scored and then set up Son.

It ultimately proved too little, too late for the visitors however and they have now lost four in a row for the first time since 2004. Having seen Champions League rivals Aston Villa lose earlier in the day, their top-four prospects look doomed once again.

As the countdown clock on Jurgen Klopp’s departure ticks down, it was good to see Salah back in the XI.

Social media had blamed the player for his spat with Klopp coming on as a late substitute but The Kop were clearly keen to move on and gave Salah’s name an extra-loud roar when read out before kick-off.

Tottenham should have come out buoyant after hearing in the dressing-room about Villa’s defeat at Brighton but it didn’t show.

Salah didn’t take long to have an impact. An impudent cross-shot with the outside of his boot thudded against the crossbar and he was then denied by a crucial interception from Mickey van de Ven.

In the late-afternoon sunshine, Salah then broke free in his favoured right-hand channel. His low shot was blocked by Vicario’s feet and from the rebound Cristian Romero hacked off the line from Harvey Elliott.

Tottenham failed to test Alisson in the first half and their best moment came from Brennan Johnson’s break though nobody could get on the end of his cross.

It was far busier at the other end and no surprise when Liverpool took the lead.

Gakpo crossed to the far post where Salah’s run saw him slip inside his marker Emerson Royal to nod in from close range.

Klopp looked delighted on the touchline at his star’s first Premier League goal in five matches and his 117th at Anfield overall – putting him joint-fifth on the all-time with Robbie Fowler.

The stadium announcer was so taken aback he wrongly credited the goal to Wataru Endo before correcting himself a few moments later.

On TV, Gary Neville made the point: ‘That’s Salah’s 18th league goal of the season. It’s a hell of a stat, hitting those numbers when people say he’s not having a good season.’

With realistic ambitions of the Premier League title gone, Liverpool were enjoying themselves. Vicario had to virtually sit on the ball to stop Luis Diaz beating him at the near post for a second goal.

Spurs, with chief creator James Maddison on the bench, didn’t make a dent in the final third and their obsession with playing out from the back got them in repeated trouble with even right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold triggering the press.

Vicario saved from Elliott and Gakpo while Diaz went close with an acrobatic volley.

The inevitable second goal arrived on the stroke of half-time.

Vicario once again performed miracles to keep out Salah’s shot from point-blank range but the ball fell kindly to the incoming Robertson who tapped in from close range.

The Spurs goalkeeper reacted by marching out of his goal to remonstrate with team-mates, There was a further fiery exchange at the interval involving Romero and Royal apart.

It didn’t help. After 48 minutes, Royal was so busy concentrating on Salah he allowed Elliott to dispossess him just outside his own area.

Elliott curled a beautiful cross towards the penalty area and Gakpo was able to hang in the air Michael Jordan-style to head home.

For Emerson, it was the lowpoint of a dreadful 100th Premier League appearance, having been asked to mark Salah after a difficult night at Chelsea in midweek.

It looked a case of how many Liverpool could get. The fourth shortly before the hour was the pick of the bunch, Salah passing to Elliott who cut inside and rifled a left-foot finish into the top corner from 25 yards.

A dismayed and no doubt disgusted Postecoglu made a triple change with former Evertonian Richarlison introduced to a hostile reception. Emerson was also mercifully withdrawn.

Richarlison had some comfort in turning in Johnson’s cross after 73 minutes which he marked by celebrating in front of the Spurs fans.

And the unlikeliest of comebacks gained traction when the Brazilian stayed onside to set up Son to beat Alisson from close range.

The game suddenly took on a new edge. Joe Gomez had to be alert to hack away from Maddison after he’d wriggled into the box.

Salah couldn’t believe when he failed to get his studs on the ball from three yards after it bounced towards him from Ryan Gravenberch’s mishit shot.

The tension was palpable enough for the signal of seven minutes added time to be greeted by loud groans. They were echoed when Salah converted Nunez’s cross only to be given offside. But Liverpool did ultimately get the job done.