Mo Salah continues to solidify his Premier League legacy as Liverpool put up an efficient display to claim a 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium and open a nine-point gap on top of the Premier League on Saturday.
Both teams came into the fixture on the back of unbeaten runs, but it was the Reds from Merseyside whose unbeaten run continued at the end of a fruitful trip to the south coast.
The hosts started on the front foot, with the in-form Antoine Semenyo rounding off a brilliant move by hitting his effort against the foot of the Liverpool post.
But it did not take long before the Reds found the breakthrough when they were awarded a penalty after Cody Gakpo appeared to be clipped inside the box by Lewis Cook.
Salah stepped up and made no mistake from the spot as he calmly slotted home in the bottom right-hand corner for his 20th league goal of the season.
Bournemouth thought they had levelled through David Brooks, who tapped home from Milos Kerkez’s cross. However, VAR determined that Kerkez was just offside before supplying the cross.
The Cherries could have been level again in the second half after Justin Kluivert blazed wide with an open goal at his mercy after Marcus Tavernier had hit the post. He would be made to rue that missed chance not long after.
Indeed, Salah struck just two minutes later to increase the visitors’ advantage for his 21st league goal, putting him in an elite group of Premier League players who have scored 20+ goals in five seasons, along with the likes of Alan Shearer, Sergio Aguero, Thierry Henry and Harry Kane.
The goal was also Salah’s 178th in the Premier League, which puts him above Chelsea legend Frank Lampard in the all-time scorers list in sixth place.
There was concern for England international Trent Alexander-Arnold after he hobbled off injured in the second half, but Arne Slot will be pleased with the win as it saw Liverpool’s lead at the summit increase to nine points for now.