Mohamed Salah scored twice to take Liverpool nine points clear at the top of the Premier League by beating Bournemouth 2-0 on Saturday, while third-placed Nottingham Forest smashed Brighton 7-0. Salah’s double took him above Frank Lampard as the sixth highest goalscorer in Premier League history with 178 goals on another significant day in the Reds’ charge towards a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title. Bournemouth had not lost in 12 games in all competitions and beaten Arsenal and Manchester City at home earlier this season.

The Cherries can count themselves unfortunate not to have extended that run as they hit the woodwork either side of half-time through Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier.

Bournemouth were also furious over the awarding of a penalty that opened the scoring on the half hour mark as Cody Gakpo appeared to clip his own heels as he entered the box rather than being tripped by Lewis Cook.

VAR did not intervene to overturn referee Darren England’s original decision to point to the spot and Salah ruthlessly rifled home the resulting spot-kick for his 20th Premier League goal of the season.

Bournemouth pressed in vain for an equaliser after the break as the in-form Justin Kluivert missed two big chances either side of Tavernier’s strike off the post.

But one moment of magic from Salah sealed a massive three points in the title race when he cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curled into the top corner.

Second-placed Arsenal have a mountain to climb if they are to rein in Arne Slot’s men and host defending champions Manchester City on Sunday.

Forest land a punch

Forest moved level on points with the Gunners thanks to a scintillating performance that blew Brighton away at the City Ground.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men had been beaten 5-0 by Bournemouth last weekend but bounced back in style with Chris Wood netting a hat-trick.

Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams and Jota Silva were also on target for Forest after Lewis Dunk‘s own goal opened the floodgates.

“After what happened last week, the answer was good,” said Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo. “You get punched, you get up – fantastic!”

The two-time European champions are on course for a return to the Champions League for the first time since 1980 as they opened up a six-point cushion on fifth-placed Newcastle, who blew the lead to lose 2-1 at home to Fulham.

Jacob Murphy put the Magpies in front at St. James’ Park, but Fulham hit back thanks to goals from Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz to climb up to ninth and within four points of the top six.

Everton’s relegation fears in their final season at Goodison Park now appear over after thrashing Leicester 4-0.

Abdoulaye Doucoure opened the scoring after just 10 seconds as David Moyes enjoyed a third win in his first four games since returning as Everton boss.

Beto then took advantage of some woeful Leicester defending to score twice before half-time and Iliman Ndiaye rounded off a resounding win in stoppage time.

The Toffees are now 10 points clear of the bottom three.

By contrast, Ipswich look doomed after Southampton ended their wait for a league win since November with a 2-1 victory at Portman Road.

Paul Onuachu scored the winner three minutes from time for Saints, who are still eight points adrift of safety, but move to with seven of Ipswich.

Mohamed Salah says he is motivated to do “something special” in what he believes will be his last year at Liverpool. The 32-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, has been in scintillating form, propelling Arne Slot’s team into a commanding six-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Egypt forward has scored 17 goals and provided 13 assists in 18 Premier League games this season ahead of the visit of struggling Manchester United on Sunday. Reports have suggested Salah is nearing an agreement with Liverpool but he said a deal was still “far away” after last weekend’s 5-0 win at West Ham.

Salah was part of the side that ended Liverpool’s 30-year wait to win a league title in 2020, but celebrations were muted as the players lifted the trophy at an empty Anfield during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s my last year in the club so you want to do something special for the city,” Salah told Sky Sports in an interview released on Friday.

“We waited for that title for 30 years or so. So, to win it and it was the pandemic at that time, we didn’t really have time to celebrate it in the right way. It’s not a nice thing to do, so hopefully we can do it this year.”

Salah is not the only high-profile Liverpool star out of contract at the end of the season.

Captain Virgil van Dijk and England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold are also now free to discuss terms with foreign clubs for next season.

Together they have helped restore Liverpool to the top of English and European football.

Under previous manager Jurgen Klopp, they won a clean sweep of trophies, including the Champions League, Club World Cup, FA Cup and League Cup.

But the League Cup is the only one they have won more than once and Salah believes his generation of players need a second Premier League title to cement their legacy.

“My motivation this year was to win a trophy and be a big part of winning that trophy, especially the Premier League,” he said.

“I still believe the team needs a trophy. There is still half of the team left like me, Trent, Virgil, Alisson (Becker), Robbo (Andy Robertson).

“It’s necessary for us to win another trophy before we all go.”

File photo of Mohamed Salah.© AFP