After a week where they encountered their first minor wobble of the season, Liverpool made sure they are instead skipping into the international break thanks to an emphatic response here against Brentford.

For a squad who can probably now be prefixed as 'injury-hit', the Reds would have done well just to have squeezed by the direct, counter-attacking threat of Thomas Frank's men at Anfield. But instead, the Bees were clinically dismantled 3-0 to shake off the draw with Luton and defeat at Toulouse in convincing fashion.

Having headed into the game without Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch, who are the most recent on absent list alongside Thiago Alcantatra, Stefan Bajcetic and Andy Robertson, Jurgen Klopp was also unable to call upon Joe Gomez or Ibrahima Konate ahead of the final fixture before the international break.

As a result the manager made as many as seven changes from the defeat in Toulouse on Thursday as Joel Matip, Wataru Endo, Kostas Tsimikas and Cody Gakpo kept their places.

It was a strong 11 on paper but the paucity of the options beneath it was laid bare by a remarkably inexperienced bench that contained the likes of 16-year-old Trey Nyoni and Ben Doak, who turned 18 earlier this week, alongside James McConnell, Luke Chambers and Calum Scanlon. Luis Diaz was the only outfield player on the nine-man bench that was aged over 20.

So while not usually the case, Liverpool's string of issues mean they could very well be welcoming this international break with open arms. The next week or two will be about resting up and rehabbing in what is now a jam-packed physio room at the AXA Training Centre, particularly with Manchester City to come. More on that later.

Darwin Nunez thought he had his eighth goal of the campaign when he controlled a mis-hit shot from Dominik Szoboszlai before finishing it off, but after a lengthy VAR check, the Uruguayan's toe was marginally offside according to the officials in Stockley Park. His wonderfully improvised overhead moments later, after goalkeeper Mark Flekken had saved from Matip, was more obviously offside at least.

Not content to miss out on the goal contributions, however, Nunez turned provider for Mohamed Salah when he spun on the edge of the box before supplying his team-mate who dispatched with aplomb. In the process, Salah became just the fourth player alongside Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand and Thierry Henry to score in his side's first six home games of the season.

It was Nunez's fifth assist for Salah this season, giving further evidence for just how devastating their long-term partnership can be. The goal, though, was perhaps the by-product of the Kop getting worked into a simmering sort of angry stupor by referee Paul Tierney, whose decisions were doing little to thaw that famously frosty relationship with Klopp.

The cries of "f*** off Tierney" after Matip was cautioned in the centre circle for what appeared a fair enough challenge on Christian Norgaard was the catalyst for a snarling, defiant sort of atmosphere that only inspired the players on the pitch. Within moments Nunez had assisted Salah and the hosts were given a smidgen of reward for their dominance.

Salah's 12th of the campaign came in nonchalant fashion after the break when he headed home without even taking flight from Kostas Tsimikas's cut-back. After a check to see if it had drifted over the line, Liverpool were given their second of the afternoon as the Egyptian marked his 200th in English football in relatively low-key style.

The Reds' top scorer has now turned in 17 goals and three assists in his last 15 Premier League games at Anfield. He is inevitable here these days and Klopp could only laugh when asked to once more talk about how great his top goalscorer is in his post-match press conference.

But if it is Salah whose hogging of the statistical headlines goes on, Nunez's all-action cameo was just as impactful. The No.9 was a constant source of activity for the Reds, forcing Brentford's overworked backline into action time and again. He never gave them a minute and will feel unfortunate he was not among the goals himself.

Jota made the game safe with the goal of the day after 74 minutes when he fired one into the far corner past Flekken after jinking inside from the left. It was a stunning strike that means Liverpool's front five have now scored 35 between them this term across 18 games.

This continuation of the imperious home form that has seen them win every game now stands at nine in total. Fortress Anfield has seen just one defeat in the last 48, in fact. Such home comforts can do a lot for a team but their next trip should give the clearest indication yet as to where this Liverpool team really are at.

Now up to second and on the coattails of leaders Man City, that Pep Guardiola's champions are up first after the break should provide plenty of mouthwatering build-up to get stuck into over the next fortnight. First-v-second is always a box office, after all. That 12.30pm kick-off slot, however, continues to be a huge irritant for the Reds manager, who once more aired his objections to it after the game.

If the next two weeks provide an ideal chance for the team themselves to rest some weary legs, supporters might now be counting down the days for that Etihad challenge on this evidence. Bring it on.