Salah shines as Reds down Foxes
MOHAMED Salah fired Liverpool to a 2-1 win over Leicester City in the Premier League at Anfield on Saturday. And while Virgil van Dijk, signed from Southampton for a world record fee for a defender of £75 million ($100 million), wasn’t able to play for Liverpool until this month, the defensive flaws the Dutch centre-back will be asked to fix were on display as Leicester took a third-minute lead.
With Van Dijk watching, Joel Matip carelessly conceded possession and Riyad Mahrez set up Jamie Vardy to slot past goalkeeper Loris Karius, selected in place of the dropped Simon Mignolet.
However, Liverpool levelled seven minutes after the interval.
Egypt winger Salah took Sadio Mane’s brilliant pass and showed good footwork before drilling past Kasper Schmeichel for his 22nd club goal of the season.
Salah then won it for Liverpool in the 76th minute, turning away from Leicester defender Harry Maguire and firing in at the Kop end.
Liverpool, unbeaten in 12 league games, remain fourth and now hold a four-point advantage over fifthplaced Tottenham Hotspur in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
“It is a maximum satisfaction to win like this. Today was pretty much perfect,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said.
Klopp believes Salah can maintain his incredible goalscoring form for the rest of the season.
The Egypt international has now netted 23 times for Liverpool in all competitions, equalling a club record set by Roger Hunt in 1961-62 for most goals in a campaign before the turn of the year.
Salah will hope to continue his hot streak against Burnley at Turf Moor today, although Klopp revealed he will first be checked by Liverpool’s medical staff to assess a minor injury.
The 25-year-old was substituted seven minutes from time in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Leicester City on Saturday having scored twice to help the Reds fight back from a goal down and secure the points.
“He was limping, and that is not a good sign,” Klopp said.
“I don’t know what is wrong. We will have to see what the problem was for the next game.
“But Mo can keep that standard for sure. It’s not just about scoring only, it’s about other situations. He is so important for us.
“He knows and I know he could not score without support of the other boys. But yes I think he can keep the standard.”
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea climbed above United into second place.
Antonio Conte’s side made t he perfect start when German defender Antonio Rudiger headed home from Willian’s free-kick in the third minute.
Eden Hazard was rested, but his replacement Danny Drinkwater did a passable impression of the brilliant Belgian, the midfielder bagging his first goal for the Blues with a blistering strike in the ninth minute.
Stoke were three down by the 23rd minute when Pedro finished off Willian’s pass to put Chelsea on course for a fourth win in five league games.
Willian stroked home a penalty in the 73rd minute, before wing-back Davide Zappacosta grabbed his first Premier League goal with two minutes remaining.
“Every win is important for us, today it was important to get three points to continue our positive run,” Conte said.
Carvalhal makes mark
Carlos Carvalhal made an immediate impact at Swansea City as his new club climbed off bottom spot with a dramatic 2-1 win at Watford.
Carvalhal was the surprise choice to replaced the sacked Paul Clement just days after being dismissed by secondtier Sheffield Wednesday.
The Portuguese coach’s first game got off to a bad start when Andre Carrillo nodded home in the 11th minute.
But Carvalhal was heard lambasting his players at half-time and they responded to his words with four minutes left when Jordan Ayew equalised. Luciano Narsingh then won it for Swansea in the 90th minute.
Swansea are two points from safety after their first win in five games.
“We deserved the win. I must say to my players I’m very happy with what they did in a difficult situation,” Carvalhal said.
Ryan Fraser’s last-gasp goal clinched Bournemouth’s first win in nine matches as they beat Everton 2-1 at Dean Court to move out of the relegation zone.
Newcastle drew 0-0 with Brighton and Huddersfield shared a goalless draw with Burnley.