Liverpool established an ominous nine-point lead at the PREMIER League summit after Mohamed Salah’s double secured a hard-fought 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Salah opened the scoring after 30 minutes from 12 yards after Lewis Cook tripped Cody Gakpo inside the penalty area. It was the Egyptian’s 177th PREMIER League goal, going level with sixth-placed Frank Lampard in the all-time top scorers’ charts – and he surpassed the former Chelsea midfielder with a gorgeous trademark finish (75).
But the result for Liverpool was slightly overshadowed by Trent Alexander-Arnold being forced off with a muscle injury during the second half and he is now a major doubt for the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham on Thursday, live on Sky Sports.
Arne Slot said: “He asked me if he could come off and then he went down. He felt something, I can’t tell you exactly what it is because it is only now an hour after it happened but it is never a good sign if the player is asking for a substitution.
“I would be surprised if he plays on Thursday but let’s hope he is back as soon as possible.”
Justin Kluivert’s glaring miss with the goal at his mercy midway through the second period proved critical as Salah superbly curled in his decisive second just four minutes later to puncture the chasing pack’s hopes of a twist in the title race.
Antoine Semenyo went close twice, rattling the post before drawing a fine save from Alisson, but the hosts were unable to make it a quadruple of home wins against the division’s top-four sides having prised the scalps of Arsenal, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest prior to Saturday’s showdown.
Salah’s wand of a left foot gave Liverpool breathing space
Slot’s table-toppers extended their unbeaten league run to 20 matches, while ending the Cherries’ 11-game unbeaten run in the process as another hurdle was overcome in their bid to be crowned champions for only the second time in 35 years.
The only table that will matter to Slot, however, is the one which has Liverpool seemingly in an unassailable lead, with Arsenal needing to respond at home to Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Slot continued: “It was the game we expected. They are so intense, they keep running and keep fighting every second. I said before the game, we were 3-0 up at Anfield at half-time and they kept going. We had to play at the top of our abilities and needed luck to win this game.
“They hit the bar or the post two times and they were constantly trying to force things. They had other chances as well and I don’t think we actually controlled the game. It was an open and even game which everyone has here, because all the teams struggle here.”
Processional feel to Liverpool’s title charge now
Salah broke the deadlock with his 20th goal of the season
Sky Sports’ Ben Grounds at the Vitality Stadium:
We are now beyond the point where the most pertinent question concerning Liverpool is whether or not Slot’s dad thinks they have played well.
The question of whether his side will win the PREMIER League in his first season in charge can surely no longer be up for debate. They still haven’t played anyone? Surely even the most scarred and pessimistic Liverpudlian must now accept that it is a foregone conclusion.
The waning degree of media attention on the serenity of Slot will not concern those who crave the column inches. Even the chatter of Alexander-Arnold’s contract has fallen silent. Of greater concern immediately will be the severity of the muscle injury he sustained on the south coast.
Competition, and the chase, is what neutrals want but it is time to gloss over Liverpool until the inevitable trophy parade.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off through injury
The best team in the league, with the most complete squad, the fewest injuries that matter and crucially the respect now of all their counterparts.
Iraola – like Thomas Frank a couple of weeks ago – decreed they are the best in class, indeed the best in Europe. His team were beaten for the first time since November 23. It was always likely to take a special outfit to end that impressive sequence.
Champions League top dogs and now nine points clear at their domestic summit.
They are still to face Everton twice but they can now afford to lose both games and not be caught, such is their superior goal difference to Arsenal.
A stumble would make good copy but you cannot pick at vulnerabilities that don’t stack up compared to the issues among rivals. The gap, in truth, is only likely to get wider.
Bournemouth beaten but far from disgraced
Antoine Semenyo struck the post in the opening period
Salah, as so often during this wonderful Liverpool season, was the difference in securing his team’s 17th win in their 23 games, but along the way Bournemouth put up a real fight.
Things did not go the home side’s way during a first half in which they hit the post, had a goal disallowed and fell behind following a contentious penalty award.
It was from a quick transition, the kind at which Bournemouth have excelled this term, that Liverpool won their spot-kick.
Gakpo seemed to have got clear of Cook as the pair chased a long ball into the box. The Liverpool player tripped, though there was more than a suggestion that he may have stumbled over his own foot. VAR upheld Darren England’s on-field decision, and from the spot Salah slipped the ball just beyond the dive of Kepa.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola felt the decision went against his side, making reference to the inconsistency that is unavoidable across the course of a full campaign.
“For me, if you take this penalty, it can go both ways,” he contested. “It’s probably a slight touch, I haven’t seen the play, but he trips after a slight touch.
“Evanilson against Brentford, exactly the same play. That one is more clear. So I accept, you call that one, you call this one, perfect. You don’t call that one, you don’t call this one, perfect. You don’t call one and you call the other, then I have to complain.”
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Sky Sports News’ Soccer Saturday react to Bournemouth player Justin Kluivert’s miss against Liverpool to go level.
A hairline VAR call denied David Brooks an equaliser, Milos Kerkez judged to have been fractionally offside before his teammate lashed in what would have been a wonderful goal.
Substitute Marcus Tavernier came within a whisker of levelling, turning away cleverly from Andy Robertson before opening his body and sending an effort crashing against the inside of the post, with Kluivert leaning back to lift the rebound glaringly over.
The Cherries have now hit the woodwork 16 times in the PREMIER League this season, the outright most of any side. On such fine margins titles are won.
Iraola added: “We didn’t get the result, obviously, but I think we gave ourselves a chance. I think we played a high-level game, both teams. I think the quality of the game has been quite high.
“But against these top teams, I think you need these small details to happen to your side sometimes. We hit the post, we hit the post again, second post, the goal, just a few millimetres, disallowed.
“We need to punish them because I think we knew that we would concede some chances because both teams played quite open, there will be transitions for both teams and probably we should have scored to put them under some pressure.”
Player of the match – Mohamed Salah
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Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Alisson react to beating Bournemouth in the PREMIER League.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah speaking to Sky Sports:
“It feels slightly different but last season we were the same, the season before we were very close. But we need to stay humble and take each game at a time and we don’t have to think further. Think about each game.
“Scoring goals and keeping on winning, it’s an incredible feeling. But the main target is to win the PREMIER League with the team. We are moving in the right direction so let’s keep going. Now it’s time to relax and enjoy.
“The defence is incredible. Alisson knows how good he is for us. We’ve played six or seven years together and then one or two in Rome. He works very hard, I’m happy for him.”
Superb Salah – Opta stats
Mohamed Salah celebrates his converted penalty
- Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in the league to 19 games (W14 D5), while away from home the Reds are unbeaten in 14 in the PREMIER League (W9 D5); only from January 2019 to February 2020 (21) have they had a longer run without defeat on the road in the competition.
- Bournemouth suffered their first PREMIER League defeat since November against Brighton, ending their 11-game unbeaten run in the competition (W7 D4). Indeed, the Cherries have only lost two league games by 2+ goals this season – both of which have been to Liverpool (3-0 in September, 2-0 today).
- Mohamed Salah scored the 300th and 301st goals of his European club career in all competitions, 236 of which have come for Liverpool (20 Basel, 2 Chelsea, 9 Fiorentina, 34 Roma). The Egyptian also reached 20+ PREMIER League goals in a single season for the fifth time (also 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2021-22).
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has now scored 11 PREMIER League goals against Bournemouth, the seventh side he’s scored 10+ against in the competition. Only Alan Shearer (12) has netted double figures against more different opponents in PREMIER League history.
