Callum Paterson snatched a Liverpool club record from manager Jurgen Klopp’s hands at Anfield.
The Reds were leading 2-0 deep into the second when Scottish international Paterson forced the ball into their net for his second goal in two games.
Liverpool were 13 minutes away from setting a record of 10 consecutive clean sheets at home in top flight football.
For all the success they have had over many, many years no Liverpool team have ever achieved that.
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Paterson ended those hopes, while Sol Bamba had netted earlier only for the effort to be ruled out because Sean Morrison was marginally offside as he headed back across goal.
Liverpool, one of the best attacking teams in the Premier League, went top with this win and dominated for long spells, but there was a spell when Cardiff had them rattled.
When Paterson scored the Reds did not look at all comfortable and, at that stage, there seemed to be hope for Neil Warnock and his team.
The quality of Liverpool’s clinical finishing left Cardiff down and out, but there were positives for the Bluebirds.
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They perhaps sat back too much in the first half, setting up in a 4-5-1 formation, but came out hard in the second. City fired up energy levels, looked far more organised and their never-say-die character shone through.
Cardiff are the first Premier League team to score against Liverpool at Anfield for eight months.
They must take heart and confidence from the way they battled and competed. Warnock’s team have now played all of the top teams apart from Manchester United and are outside the bottom three.
Hope is still alive. Believe.
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Some of the stats show how good Liverpool were at times. During the opening 45 minutes the home team completed 412 passes, while Cardiff’s total was a miserly 35.
It has to be said the Bluebirds were far improved in terms of passing after the break,
The home team enjoyed 80 per cent of possession over the 90 minutes, while they outshot their visitors 19-2. Seven of those were on target – against one from Cardiff.
Liverpool goals were scored by Salah (10 mins), Sadio Mane (66, 87) and Xherdan Shaquiri (84) and they were good value for the win, but Cardiff can move forward with confidence.
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“The scoreline was a bit harsh,” said Warnock. “We were punished for mistakes. There were great opportunities for us during the first half when we were breaking, but made wrong decisions too many times.
“I had to make changes which I didn’t want to do, but they were forced on us. It’s a intimidating place, but the lads gave me everything.
“Cardiff fans were fantastic again. At 2-1 the place seemed eery, so quiet apart from our fans. Fixtures don’t come much tougher, but there have been a lot of plusses over the last few games.
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“We played well against Burnley, did ever so well against Tottenham and won against Fulham.
“The fans were with us and there are two games to come.”
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Moreno, Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Lallana (Shaquiri 61), Mane, Salah, Firmino. (Milner 71). Subs not used: Gomez, Sturridge, Mignolet, Robertson, Matip.
Cardiff City (4-5-1)