MO SALAH returned from injury with a bang – only to watch key Liverpool team-mates swap places with him in the treatment room.

Salah’s assist and goal on his first appearance since a hamstring problem killed off the game and sealed the victory that kept the Reds clear at the top of the table.

Mohamed Salah returned to Liverpool and grabbed a goal and assist

Brentford were far off the pace against the table-topping Reds

Liverpoool made their dominance count

But Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of fielding anything like a first-choice team for next weekend’s Carabao Cup Final were dealt a triple blow.

Klopp had already lost Curtis Jones when Diogo Jota was taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Salah.

Then Darwin Nunez, scorer of the brilliant opening goal, did not come out for the second half.

Alexis Mac Allister extended the visitors’ lead from Salah’s pass then the Egyptian, after missing earlier chances, made the most of more poor Brentford defending to make it three.

Ivan Toney pulled one back with 15 minutes to go, but another howler by Nathan Collins allowed Luis Diaz to play in Cody Gakpo for the fourth.

At least the number of goals exceeded the injuries, but if the gap at the top remains clear, Klopp’s options in the short and medium term are not.

An open, attractive game began with a chance for the Bees. After a quick throw-in, Christian Norgaard found Vitaly Janelt unmarked in the box but the midfielder dragged his shot well off target.

Home ‘keeper Mark Flekken was soon forced into an excellent double save, first keeping out Conor Bradley’s cut effort then blocking Diogo Jota’s follow-up.

The visitors cleared untidily with a punt by Virgil Van Dijk but what followed was perfection.

Jota’s header was weighted and directed just where Nunez wanted it. The Uruguayan charged on at pace and sent the most delicious chip over the Brentford keeper and under the bar.

But the Reds suffered their second injury blow of the afternoon before half time.

Curtis Jones had been forced off earlier, then Jota was taken off on a stretcher after Norgaard fell on him.

A treble injury blow has given Jurgen Klopp food for thought starting with Curtis Jones

Diogo Jota went on injured as moments after assisting the opener

Darwin Nunez netted but was taken off at half-time

On came Salah to a chorus of welcome from the away fans.

The Egyptian King should have scored in the third of eight minutes of stoppage time, but Diaz’s cross just bounced off him.

Worse news for the Reds followed when Nunez did not emerge for the second half, and was replaced by Gakpo.

Diaz, the one Liverpool forward who deserved to go off, created an opening but sent his shot over the bar.

Then Salah wasted another fine opportunity.

Van Dijk’s header sent him clean through but his reluctance to use his right foot led to him jabbing a weird left-footed shot wide.

No matter. Moments later Salah made the second goal.

His pass found Mac Allister and the Argentinian World Cup winner outdid Kristoffer Ajer before jabbing home.

Bradley, giving another fine performance in Alexander-Arnold’s place, just cleared the bar with his own effort.

Liverpool were finding life a little too easy, so Brentford boss Thomas Frank made a triple substitution.

Ajer’s block stopped Diaz earning Salah another assist. But soon he had a goal.

Gakpo won the header against Ajer, who was then let down by both his centre back partners.

Ben Mee just left the ball for Salah ran on to and when Nathan Collins came across, he failed to stop Salah hitting a shot across Flekken to make it 3-0.

The Bees felt a flutter of hope when Toney followed up to score after Kelleher made a superb stop from Sergio Reguilon.

Ivan Toney pulled one goal back for the home team

The result was Brentford’s eighth defeat in ten league games

However, the home team did not pose much of a threat until Collins committed yet another egregious act of defense.

The ball passed through the former Wolves player, allowing Diaz to find Gakpo and the Dutchman to find the net.

Although Flekken stopped a late free kick from Harvey Elliott, Van Dijk struck the crossbar, and Kelleher saved a late penalty, Brentford’s performance was befitting of relegation.

Injuries may yet play a big role in whether this is a trophy-winning season for Liverpool.