Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening goal from a penalty during the Europa League semifinal first leg soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa in Nottingham.
| Photo Credit: AP

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.

Liverpool moved a step closer to a record-equalling 20th English top-flight title as a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League. Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota were on target for the rampant Reds in east London as they ended the year as huge favourites to deliver just a second league title in 35 years. Nottingham Forest are the surprise closest challengers in second, but Arsenal and Chelsea can close the gap when they are in action later in the week.

Arne Slot has repeatedly stressed nothing can be won yet with Liverpool still one game shy of the halfway mark in the Premier League.

But the Dutchman’s succession of Jurgen Klopp continues to look flawless after a 23rd win in 27 matches in all competitions.

“I enjoyed it a lot because it doesn’t happen many times that I could just sit back and enjoy,” said Slot.

Diaz had been rested for the 3-1 win over Leicester on Boxing Day and it was the Colombian who opened the floodgates on 30 minutes at the London Stadium.

His intended pass into Curtis Jones rebounded back into his path off a West Ham defender and he dispatched his shot low into the corner.

Mohammed Kudus was inches away from an equaliser when his effort came back off the post.

But another heavy home defeat puts Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui back under pressure after a four-game unbeaten run.

“We are talking about the best team in the Premier League and around the world, but at home and in front of our fans, I am very sorry about this,” said Lopetegui.

Two goals in four minutes just before half-time killed the game as a contest.

Salah’s delightful turn helped tee up Gakpo to roll in his ninth goal in 14 games.

The Egyptian then curled in at Alphonse Areola‘s near post, with some help from the West Ham goalkeeper, to hit the 20-goal mark for the eighth consecutive season since joining Liverpool in 2017.

Speculation over Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s futures has not derailed Liverpool’s flying start under Slot.

All three could discuss a move to a foreign club on a free transfer next season within days, but remain focused for the moment on winning a second Premier League title together.

“The only thing in my mind is that I want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be part of it,” said Salah.

“That is the only thing I have focused on. I will do my best to win the trophy. We are in the right direction but there are other teams trying to catch up with us. We just need to stay humble and go again.”

Rumours over Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid have resurfaced again in the Spanish media over the past week and the England international showed why he is a man in demand with a thunderous strike that deflected in off Max Kilman.

Jota’s appearance as a substitute was further evidence of the extra firepower Liverpool enjoy over their title rivals.

The Portuguese set the seal on a dominant win with the finish for the fifth goal, but had another sumptuous Salah assist to thank for it.

Salah jinked his way beyond three West Ham defenders before laying the ball to Jota for his 13th Premier League assist of the season to go with 17 goals in 18 games.

Struggling Manchester City beat Leicester 2-0 on Sunday to notch just their second win in 14 games as Nottingham Forest climbed to second in the Premier League table. Ange Postecoglou suffered the intense frustration of watching his Tottenham side concede a late goal to draw 2-2 with rejuvenated Wolves. Defending champions City travelled to the King Power drained of confidence after just one win in all competitions since late October.

Their frailties over the past two months, which resulted in nine defeats in their previous 13 games, were on display again.

But Savinho’s first-half goal and an Erling Haaland header after the break earned a much-needed three points.

Leicester provided a stern test and might feel they could have got something out of the match as Facundo Buonanotte hit the post and Jamie Vardy missed a key chance at 1-0 down.

City’s bid for a fifth straight title looks to be over as they are 11 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have played two games fewer.

But the result lifts them to fifth in the table and within striking distance of the top four.

Savinho opened the scoring midway through the first half with his first goal for City while Haaland secured the win in the 74th minute — sparking wild celebrations among the City players.

“We needed it, all of us,” City boss Pep Guardiola told Sky Sports. “It was not the ideal performance but hopefully the victories will give our mood a better position.

“It’s important to win, it was tight, second half. We didn’t have enough energy to sustain 90 minutes but hopefully in the New Year we can bounce back a bit from a bad moment.”

Leicester remain rooted in the bottom three after losing their past four games under new manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Forest riding high

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest beat Everton to win their fifth straight Premier League match, leapfrogging Chelsea and Arsenal.

Chris Wood chipped over Jordan Pickford for the opening goal in the 15th minute after being set up by Anthony Elanga.

Wood turned provider for Forest’s second, which came just after the hour mark when Morgan Gibbs-White lashed home to make it 2-0.

They are five points behind Liverpool, who have played two games fewer.

Wood said Forest were not obsessed with their position in the league table but he admitted qualifying for European football would be a “dream”.

“For the club and the fans it’s the dream. It’s the Premier League and it’s the toughest league in the world,” he told the BBC.

Spurs were on course for just their second Premier League win since late November against Wolves.

Hwang Hee-chan scored an early opener for the visitors but were ahead for just five minutes before Rodrigo Bentancur headed an equaliser.

Brennan Johnson powered Spurs into the lead in the dying minutes of the first half to put his side on track for all three points.

But Jorgen Strand Larssen produced a brilliant finish from the angle to earn Wolves a share of the points.

New Wolves manager Vitor Pereira remains unbeaten, with two wins and a draw in his first three matches in charge at Molineaux, taking the club out of the relegation zone.

Crystal Palace won just their second home league game of the season, seeing off bottom club Southampton 2-1, thanks to goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Eberechi Eze.

Dango Ouattara scored an 89th-minute leveller as Bournemouth drew 2-2 at Fulham.

Liverpool travel to West Ham for the late kick-off while Chelsea are not in action until Monday, with Arsenal travelling to Brentford on Wednesday.

Manchester City snapped a seven-game winless streak as Kevin De Bruyne played a starring role in a 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday. The Belgian created Bernardo Silva‘s opening goal and then scored the second before Jeremy Doku rounded off a much-needed victory for the English champions. City’s barren run included six defeats to leave them 11 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool before kick-off. However, De Bruyne’s return to the starting line-up for the first time in nearly three months helped resume normal service at the Etihad Stadium.

City move back into the top four and within nine points of Liverpool after their 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

Pep Guardiola had to shoot down suggestions of a rift with De Bruyne on the eve of the game after bedding him back into action slowly with a series of substitute appearances.

The 33-year-old showed what City have been missing as he rolled back the years and could well have had more than just one goal.

Guardiola reacted to Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool by making four changes as Josko Gvardiol, Doku and Jack Grealish also came into the team.

It took just eight minutes for City to make the breakthrough.

Ilkay Gundogan‘s cross was headed back towards goal by De Bruyne and Silva was in the right place to tap home from centimetres out.

Guardiola claimed pre-match that Ederson remains his number one goalkeeper but the Brazilian was again benched in favour of Stefan Ortega.

The German made a big save to deny Morgan Gibbs-White before Forest missed a glorious chance to put the Etihad crowd back on edge.

Chris Wood‘s fine goalscoring form has been the catalyst to a fabulous season so far for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.

But the New Zealander was wayward as he fired wide with just Ortega to beat.

De Bruyne settled City nerves on 31 minutes when he collected Doku’s pass inside the area and coolly slotted into the top corner.

Erling Haaland has now failed to find the net in his last three Premier League games.

But the Norwegian did play a part in the third goal with the assist for Doku, who cut inside and fired into the far corner.

De Bruyne saw a free-kick curl just wide and was then denied a second by his international team-mate Matz Sels.

He was given a standing ovation when he departed 15 minutes from time.

City spectacularly collapsed from 3-0 up to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord in the Champions League eight days ago.

However, there was never any sense of a repeat as they controlled the closing stages to add a clean sheet to an all-round restorative night for Guardiola’s men.

Defeat leaves Forest still in sixth but now four points off the top four.

Nottingham Forest have defied expectations to reach their highest Premier League position in 26 years after surviving one of the most turbulent seasons in the club’s history. Ahead of Sunday’s clash with Newcastle, Forest sit third in the Premier League following three consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since 1999. Not since August 1998, when a 2-1 win over Southampton left Dave Bassett’s side second in the standings, have they been so high in the Premier League. Nuno Espirito Santo’s team have inflicted the only league defeat on leaders Liverpool this term and sit proudly above the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

The two-time European Cup winners might not be quite ready to recapture the golden days of Brian Clough’s reign.

But Forest’s lofty position is a welcome sign of progress after last season’s relegation battle.

A deduction of four points in March following a breach of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules left Forest in grave danger of dropping into the Championship.

The anxiety at the City Ground boiled over after a contentious loss at Everton in April, when the club’s social media account accused VAR official Stuart Attwell of favouring relegation rivals Luton.

Forest eventually avoided the drop and have made the most of their reprieve.

New Zealand striker Chris Wood has been key to Forest’s charge up the table.

The 32-year-old, voted the Premier League player of the month for October, has scored eight of Forest’s 14 top-flight goals this season.

Wood has netted 22 times in 30 league starts since making his move from Newcastle permanent in June 2023.

Forest have also proved formidable at the other end of the pitch, with goalkeeper Matz Sels amassing the joint-most clean-sheets in the top-flight this season.

Nikola Milenkovic‘s pre-season arrival from Fiorentina has helped stabilise the Forest defence in a solid centre-back partnership with Brazilian Murillo.

Nuno is the architect of Forest’s surge, silencing the doubters who questioned his arrival to replace the sacked Steve Cooper in December.

‘The ambition to grow’

He lasted just 17 games at Tottenham before being dismissed in 2021, while his largely successful four-year reign at Wolves also finished on a sour note.

The meticulous Portuguese coach returned to the Premier League after winning the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad and has proved a shrewd appointment.

Significantly, Nuno has handled Forest’s volatile and demanding owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is currently in the midst of a five-game ban for spitting towards officials after a loss against Fulham in September.

“Starting from the owner, the ambition to grow and improve the club makes us all aware that we have to give our best,” said Nuno.

“Ambition is good. Demanding is good. But we cannot get away from our track, so I insist we have to remain humble and realise we haven’t achieved anything. I don’t just say that, it is the truth.”

That ambition is exemplified by the imminent arrival of Edu, who quit as Arsenal’s sporting director this week for a new role heading up Marinakis’ stable of clubs, which also includes Greek giants Olympiacos.

While Nuno is keen to keep Forest from resting on their laurels, the long-suffering City Ground faithful are starting to dream of appearing in European competition for the first time since 1995-96.

Forest’s win at Anfield and a draw against Chelsea suggest they are capable of holding their own against the big guns.

But the acid test of their renaissance lies in wait, with trips to Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, as well as home games against Aston Villa and Tottenham, all scheduled before the turn of the year.

Ever the perfectionist, Nuno is demanding even more from his players regardless of the opponent.

“We have to recognise there are a lot of mistakes being made that we have to correct, so the ambition is that. Keeping on track is what we have to do,” he said.

Chris Wood struck twice in Nottingham Forest’s 3-1 win at Leicester as the New Zealand striker condemned Foxes boss Steve Cooper to defeat against his former club on Friday. Ryan Yates put Forest ahead in the East Midlands derby at the King Power Stadium before Jamie Vardy levelled for Leicester. The in-form Wood restored Forest’s lead and netted again with his seventh goal in nine matches this season. Forest’ second successive victory lifted them into fifth place in the Premier League.

They have lost just once in nine league games this term, proving their decision to sack Cooper and hire Nuno Espirito Santo was a shrewd move.

Cooper was facing Forest for the first time since his dismissal in December.

The 44-year-old spent two years in charge of Forest, guiding them from the bottom of the Championship back to the Premier League after a 23-year absence before being axed with the club just above the relegation zone.

Nuno saved Forest from the drop, while Cooper was hired by promoted Leicester in the close-season to replace Enzo Maresca after the Italian’s move to Chelsea.

“It’s self-inflicted, no doubt about that, and it’s on us. We all have to take responsibility for how the game panned out. We made poor mistakes for the goals,” Cooper said.

“It’s a setback after winning a few games coming into this. We have to accept it.”

Forest’s first win at Leicester since 2013 was sweet viewing for Nuno, who had to watch from the press box as he served the second game of a suspension.

“Chris deserves his plaudits. He’s done an amazing job. He’s very honest and he gives everything on the pitch for us,” Nuno said.

“It’s not about the table. This group wants to progress and they want to make the fans enjoy. We see these players work every day and we demand from them.”

Forest ignited a dramatic first half in the 16th minute, seizing the lead thanks to a Leicester meltdown.

Facundo Buonanotte dwelt on the ball too long instead of clearing the danger and Wood’s deflected shot drew a woeful attempted clearance from James Justin.

Yates pounced on the loose ball and curled his low strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Vardy keeps scoring

Leicester’s response was emphatic as Vardy dragged them back on level terms in the 23rd minute.

Harry Winks whipped a teasing cross into the Forest six-yard box and Vardy got between two defenders to prod home from close-range in typically predatory fashion.

Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen made a superb save to repel Nicolas Dominguez’s close-range volley when the Forest midfielder looked certain to score.

Hermansen made another fine stop to keep out Callum Hudson-Odoi’s blast from the edge of the area.

But the Dane was beaten again in the 47th minute when Wood deftly controlled Elliot Anderson‘s pass and swivelled to fire a fine finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Leicester appealed in vain for a penalty after Vardy threw himself to the ground following a brief tug from Nikola Milenkovic.

That proved a crucial moment as Wood punished woeful defending to net again on the hour.

A long punt from Forest keeper Matz Sels should have been dealt with by Leicester’s Wout Faes but the Belgian allowed the ball to bounce past him and Wood looped a close-range header over Hermansen.

Nottingham Forest were fined 750,000 pounds ($980,000) for criticising VAR official.© AFP

Noni Madueke’s equaliser rescued Chelsea in a 1-1 draw against 10-man Nottingham Forest that ended the Blues’ five-match winning run on Sunday. Enzo Maresca‘s side fell behind to Chris Wood‘s strike early in the second half at Stamford Bridge. England winger Madueke hauled Chelsea level but the hosts couldn’t find a winner despite their numerical advantage in the closing stages. Forest had to play the last 12 minutes with 10 men after James Ward-Prowse was sent off. Chelsea had won their previous three league games — and five in all competitions — to raise hopes that Maresca is the man to lift the west Londoners out of their long malaise. Being held by Forest was a setback but Chelsea still go into the international break in fourth place in the Premier League.

Maresca insists Chelsea are not ready to compete with Manchester City and Arsenal for the title, but they have established themselves as candidates for a top four finish.

The Italian demonstrated Chelsea’s enviable strength in depth by fielding an entirely changed starting line-up for Thursday’s 4-2 Europa Conference League win over Gent.

Once again, he made a host of changes but with less success this time.

Chelsea played songs picked by each of their players over the stadium tannoy before kick-off as part of the club’s attempt to enhance the matchday experience.

Joao Felix selected Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Jadon Sancho opted for “Too Fast” by Future.

But for long periods on a drab afternoon in west London, Chelsea’s stars were distinctly out of tune.

Chelsea were fortunate not to fall behind when Murillo’s stinging shot was palmed away by Robert Sanchez.

It took Maresca’s men until three minutes before half-time before they finally tested Forest keeper Matz Sels.

Madueke’s effort was pushed away by Sels, who scrambled to his feet to save Enzo Fernandez‘s shot from the rebound.

Sels repelled Cole Palmer‘s low shot moments later, alertly grabbing the loose ball before it could roll over the line.

But Chelsea’s flurry of jabs late in the first half were followed by a smack in the mouth just four minutes after the interval.

Nikola Milenkovic flicked a Forest free-kick towards Wood and the New Zealand striker prodded home from close-range for his fourth goal this season.

Elliot Anderson forced Sanchez to make a good save as Chelsea staggered on the ropes.

The Blues punched back in the 57th minute, with Madueke surging onto Palmer’s pass in the Forest area before planting a fine finish past Sels.

Madueke should have completed Chelsea’s comeback when Sancho’s pass found the winger in space, but his shot blazed over.

Already on a booking, Ward-Prowse’s despairing grab on Nicolas Jackson triggered his 78th minute red card, but crucially it stopped the Senegal striker from snatching the winner.

Palmer was twice denied by Sels in the closing minutes and Felix squandered a golden opportunity in 13 minutes of stoppage-time, heading wide from Pedro Neto‘s cross.

Sanchez kept out Neco Williams’ effort before Sels denied Christopher Nkunku in a tense finale that left Chelsea frustrated.

Arne Slot had made a serene start to the unenviable task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, but a 1-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest has brought the Dutchman’s honeymoon period to an abrupt end and exposed cracks in the Reds’ facade. Liverpool have little time to lick their wounds with a trip to AC Milan to come on Tuesday to open their return to the Champions League after a year away from Europe’s elite club competition. Under Klopp, Liverpool’s prestige at the top of the European game was restored. 

The English giants reached three Champions League finals in five seasons between 2018 and 2022 and won the European Cup for the sixth time in the club’s history.

That is the legacy Slot inherits and the former Feyenoord boss has not been handed a kind draw by the new Champions League format.

Liverpool will face the two most succesful sides in the competition’s history in Milan and Real Madrid.

Xabi Alonso, who had been the favourite to replace Klopp, will return to Anfield with German champions Bayer Leverkusen in November, while Slot goes back to the Netherlands to face Dutch title holders PSV Eindhoven.

They also face more Italian, Spanish, German and French opposition in Bologna, Girona, Leipzig and Lille.

Yet Liverpool may relish that challenge after struggling when Forest put 11 men behind the ball on Saturday and held out for their first win at Anfield in 55 years.

The home side enjoyed nearly 70 percent possession but lacked the necessary spark to make it count.

“We lost the ball so many times in simple situations,” said a frustrated Slot. “We had a lot of ball possession but only managed to create three or four quite good chances, so that is by far not enough.”

The feeling of deflation for the Anfield faithful contrasted sharply with the elation that greeted a 3-0 win at Manchester United before the international break.

Even Klopp had struggled to master Old Trafford during his nearly nine years in charge and the early signs of Slot’s reign were positive.

Over-reliance on Salah?

Liverpool won their opening three Premier League games without conceding as the Dutch coach imposed more control and a bit more caution to the free-flowing brand of heavy metal football that quickly won fans over under Klopp.

Slot now has to strike the balance of imposing his own style while keeping both the players and supporters onside during a transition period.

“If I would change my way of preparation after a loss, that means I only do the best work I can after we lose,” added Slot on how he will change things up for the trip to Milan.

“I want to see the same attitude every single day: after a big win, after a small win, after a draw, after a loss.”

The international break acts as a mitigating factor for Liverpool’s off day. Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister were replaced with the score still at 0-0 against Forest after their transatlantic duties in South American World Cup qualifying.

But their failure to fire on an off day for Mohamed Salah exposed a reliance on the 32-year-old to still carry the goal-scoring burden that Slot has to find a solution for, especially with the Egyptian into the final year of his contract.

“Everyone is coming back from different places and playing a different way but still I think even today when we were not at our best we created chances and it should have gone better,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

“We have to turn this around and make this a sort of reality check to be better for the rest of the season because if you want to achieve things this season the contrast between the games we played is too big.”