London (AFP)

Liverpool increased their lead at the top of the English Championship to 16 points by beating Manchester United (2-0) Sunday, for the 23rd day, after a match worthy of the fierce rivalry between the two clubs.

The general jubilation in Anfield Road on the second goal of Mohamed Salah, in additional time, joined behind the Mancunian cages by Alisson Becker who had crossed the whole field to congratulate him, looks like images where a title is celebrated.

And if mathematically the account is not there, this 21st success in 22 matches brings a little closer Liverpool, which will receive West Ham in late match on January 29, of the national title which flees it for 30 years.

Manchester City, hooked on Saturday by Crystal Palace (2-2), and Leicester, knocked down early in the afternoon by Burnley (2-1) who had lost his last four games, can no longer keep up, even from afar.

And the impression of always switching events favorably, failing to really control them, makes the Reds almost irresistible.

This 204th "North West Derby" has in any case kept all its promises, Manchester United confirming its ability to raise its level of play in major events.

However, there was cause for concern for the Red Devils, deprived of three of their best elements. The last minute package of Marcus Rashford, hit in the back and perhaps unavailable for several weeks, in attack, was added to those of Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay in the middle.

- Merciless van Dijk -

The men of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sold their hide dearly and, without an incredible failure by Anthony Martial, could have left with a point as in the first leg, which remains to this day the only championship meeting where the men of Jürgen Klopp did not raise their arms at the final whistle.

Unfortunately for them, the French striker put far too much power in his strike seven meters from goal and she went lost in the sky of Anfield (59th).

In the first period already, the Portuguese midfielder Andreas Pereira had just missed the equalization on a surrender of Aaron Wan-Bissaka (41st). Strikes from Brazilian Fred (57th, 68th) could also have been better.

But the Reds largely deserved their success, tipping the game at the first opportunity, taking advantage of too loose a marking by Brandon Williams on a corner.

A fatal error when it occurs for the benefit of Virgil van Dijk, who catapulted his head with a corner into the goal when the first quarter of an hour of play was not yet over (1-0, 14th).

A specialty of the Reds, who have scored 30 set goals since the start of last season, 7 more than any other elite team, while van Dijk is the most prolific central defender since his arrival two years ago, with 8 achievements.

The Reds should have widened the gap by Sadio Mané (45th), causing a stop by David de Gea's magnificent foot, then by Mohamed Salah alone at six meters (48th) but who missed the frame or by Jordan Henderson who found the post (49th), after a deviation from the Spanish porter.

A goal by Roberto Firmino could also have been granted in the 25th minute of play, if the VAR had not considered that the slight contact, on a bell ball, of van Dijk on de Gea was faulty.

But they had to wait for additional time and the desperate assaults of United late in the game to kill all suspense by Salah, on a decisive pass from goalkeeper Alisson Becker (2-0, 90th + 3).

Full results of the 23rd day:

Saturday

Watford - Tottenham 0 - 0

Brighton - Aston Villa 1 - 1

Arsenal - Sheffield United 1 - 1

Southampton - Wolverhampton 2 - 3

Norwich City - Bournemouth 1 - 0

Manchester City - Crystal Palace 2 - 2

West Ham - Everton 1 - 1

Newcastle - Chelsea 1 - 0

Sunday

Burnley - Leicester 2 - 1

Liverpool - Manchester United 2 - 0

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