Salah puts Hornets to sword with four goals

Mohamed Salah’s record-breaking season shows no signs of slowing down as four goals in Saturday’s 5-0 victory over Watford put him in pole position for the Premier League’s golden boot.

The Egypt international’s four-goal haul – including his first hat-trick for the club – took his tally to 36 for the campaign and his 28 in the top flight, four better than Tottenham’s injured Harry Kane and the best in Europe’s top five leagues.

Not far behind is Roberto Firmino, who marked the best goalscoring season of his career with an exquisite backheel for his 23rd in all competitions against a Hornets side who presented little challenge as Liverpool bounced back from last weekend’s defeat at Old Trafford.

With Manchester United and Tottenham both involved in FA Cup action, Jurgen Klopp’s side moved back into third place.

Bournemouth added to the pressure on West Brom manager Alan Pardew with a late comeback to win 2-1 at the Vitality Stadium.

Jay Rodriguez put West Brom ahead early in the second half but in the final quarter hour, with Pardew beginning to dream of a first win in eight games, Albion lost captain Jonny Evans to injury and Jordon Ibe immediately curled in a 25-yard leveller.

Worse was to follow for the visitors as Junior Stanislas produced an equally impressive strike from a free-kick a minute from time to inflict a seventh straight defeat on the rock-bottom side.

The result dropped them 10 points below the safety line after Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Huddersfield to move out of the relegation zone.

Stoke, in 19th, lost ground on their relegation rivals as Cenk Tosun’s double earned Everton a win at a snowy Bet365 Stadium.

Stoke’s Scottish internationalist Charlie Adam was sent off on the half-hour for a reckless lunge at Wayne Rooney and while Everton were slow to make the extra man count, they finally took the lead in the 69th minute when Tosun scrambled the ball home.

Stoke substitute Eric Choupo-Moting bravely stabbed in an equaliser but Tosun restored the Toffees’ lead with a diving header.