Mohamed Salah’s impressive performance, where he scored two goals, propelled Liverpool to a crucial 2-0 victory over Bournemouth, reinforcing Liverpool’s position in the Premier League title race with a nine-point lead. This victory on Saturday was significant, especially as Bournemouth entered the match with considerable momentum, previously enjoying an 11-match unbeaten streak in the league.
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest also made headlines by achieving a remarkable 7-0 win against Brighton, marking one of the heaviest defeats for Brighton in recent memory. Salah’s contributions included a penalty conversion in the 30th minute, followed by a spectacular goal in the 75th minute. His tally of 178 goals has now placed him ahead of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, making him the sixth all-time top scorer in Premier League history. Salah has reached 21 goals this season, which may be his final campaign at Liverpool as his contract is set to expire at the end of the year. This achievement marks the fifth time he has scored 20 or more league goals in a single season for the club.
This win not only ended Bournemouth’s run but also solidified Liverpool’s dominance, leaving them well ahead of rivals like second-placed Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, who bounced back impressively after suffering a 5-0 loss to Bournemouth the previous week. Forest’s Chris Wood shined in their match, scoring a hat trick, which confirms their strong position to potentially qualify for a European competition next season.
As the Premier League unfolds, Arsenal is looking to close the gap to Liverpool when they host Manchester City on Sunday. Liverpool has exhibited a formidable record thus far in the season, with only one loss under the management of Arne Slot. Despite celebrating the win against Bournemouth, Slot remarked on the crucial moments in the game, referring to his side’s close encounters with goals, including two shots hitting the post and a missed opportunity from Justin Kluivert.
In a downside for Liverpool, right back Trent Alexander-Arnold was substituted in the 70th minute due to a suspected thigh injury. He is set for a scan, and there are concerns about his participation in the upcoming match against Tottenham in the English League Cup semifinals, especially with Liverpool aiming to recover from a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
On the other hand, Forest’s record victory included contributions from Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams, and Jota Silva, after an own goal by Lewis Dunk that started the scoring. For Wood, who is experiencing his best season in the Premier League with a total of 17 goals thus far, the contrast between last week’s performance and the current triumph over Brighton was notable. He expressed his relief and excitement regarding the team’s revival.
Everton also enjoyed a glorious day as Abdoulaye Doucoure scored one of the fastest goals in Premier League history, netting just 10 seconds into their match against Leicester City. Everton went on to secure a 4-0 victory, with Doucoure’s goal marking a significant milestone for the club. Beto contributed with two first-half goals, and Iliman Ndiaye sealed the match with an additional goal. This marks a promising start for manager David Moyes in his second term with the club.
Leicester City faced a setback, falling into the relegation zone after a previous win against Tottenham. The team was outperformed by Wolverhampton, who secured a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. Fulham made a comeback against Newcastle to win 2-1, while Southampton managed their second league win with a late goal from Paul Onuachu against Ipswich. Despite this victory, Southampton remains firmly in the relegation battle.
