Salah brace in Liverpool win

Liverpool stayed in touch with Premier League leaders Man City as Mohamed Salah’s double earned them a 3-1 win at West Ham but Tottenham lost on Sunday. For the second time in four days Liverpool enjoyed a visit to the capital as they followed Thursday’s 3-1 win over Spurs with another dominant display.

After five league games without a win, Liverpool are ticking over again and with Manchester City visiting Anfield next weekend their hopes of defending their crown are intact.

“We spoke a lot in the last few weeks, as you can imagine,” Klopp said. “These boys are a really good group. They are not happy with not being successful. They always have the right attitude. But they need the right information as well. Now we have a found a way again to be uncomfortable for other teams.”

Salah, who had not registered in the league since December, scored two majestic goals after the break before Gini Wijnaldum added a third. Craig Dawson’s late goal was little consolation for West Ham whose four-game winning league run ended abruptly.

Tottenham, without injured Harry Kane, became the first side to lose at Brighton in the league this season as they went down 1-0.

It was a dreadfully disappointing display by Jose Mourinho’s side who rarely looked like avoiding defeat after Leandro Trossard put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute. “Not good in the first half, better in the second. We started with some mistakes that led to a ball that hit the post and then the goal,” Mourinho said.

Messi’s 650th for Barca

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi scored his 650th goal for Barcelona while Antoine Griezmann struck the winner in a 2-1 home success over Athletic Bilbao in La Liga, avenging a defeat by the Basque side in the Spanish Super Cup final. Messi curled in a stunning free kick after 20 minutes for his milestone goal.

Ronald Koeman’s side recorded a fifth straight Liga win and moved above Real Madrid into second on goal difference with 40 points, 10 behind Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand.