Reds in Champions League

MOHAMED Salah set a Premier League record of 32 goals in a 38game season to guarantee Liverpool’s place back in the Champions League next season by beating Brighton 4-0 at Anfield yesterday.

Victory for Liverpool meant it did not matter what fifth-placed Chelsea did at Newcastle, but they failed to put any sort of pressure on the Champions League finalists by succumbing limply to a 3-0 defeat at St James’s Park.

At the other end of the table, Swansea’s seven-season stay in the Premier League came to an end as they joined West Brom and Stoke City in being relegated to the Championship.

Needing to beat Stoke, Southampton to lose to Manchester City and a 10-goal swing in goal difference in their favour, Swansea failed to even sign off with a win as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Stoke.

Liverpool are aiming for a sixth European Cup when they face the might of Real Madrid in the Champions League final on May 26.

But Jurgen Klopp’s men know even if they fall short in Kiev, they will be back in the Champions League next season.

Salah eased any nerves by swivelling to strike his first goal in four games on 26 minutes to take his tally in all competitions this season to 44.

Chelsea gave themselves no chance of usurping Liverpool into fourth as they slumped to a 10th Premier League defeat of the season in the northeast.

Champions Manchester City have broken the Premier League record for wins, points and goals this season and set another landmark by becoming the first side in English top flight history to reach 100 points as Gabriel Jesus struck a dramatic late winner to beat Southampton 1-0.

That also meant City set a record Premier League margin of victory of 19 points from Man- chester United, who won 1-0 over Watford at Old Trafford.

Arsenal gave Arsene Wenger a parting gift in his final game as manager after 22 years in charge by winning their first points away from home in the Premier League this year with a 1-0 win at Huddersfield. – AFP