After fans booed the national anthem following King Charles III’s crowning on Saturday, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah sealed a 1-0 win against Brentford to keep their top-four chances alive.
Salah’s first-half score has helped him reach 30 goals in all competitions for the third season in a row.
The Egypt international became the first player in Liverpool history to score in nine consecutive games at Anfield, and his goal brings him to 100 career goals at the Brentford stadium.
He also surpassed Steven Gerrard’s 186-goal record for Liverpool, moving into joint sixth position on the club’s all-time scoring list.
Jurgen Klopp’s fifth-placed team climbed within one point of fourth-placed Manchester United after their sixth successive league victory.
United’s defeat at Brighton in midweek has given Liverpool renewed hope of qualifying for the Champions League via a top-four berth.
But United, who travel to West Ham on Sunday, have two games in hand and remain favourites to finish above their bitter rivals.
Salah’s memorable evening was partially overshadowed by the Liverpool fans who booed the national anthem just hours after the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Liverpool said on Friday they would play the anthem prior to kick-off despite acknowledging “some supporters have strong views” on the subject.
As “God Save the King” was played, boos and jeers were eventually drowned out by chants of “Liverpool” from the home fans.
Liverpool supporters have repeatedly booed the anthem in recent years, most notably ahead of last season’s FA Cup final.
UK government plans to leave the city to “managed decline” in the 1980s and the cover-up that followed the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, which caused the death of 97 Liverpool fans, have been cited as reasons for anti-establishment protest.