MO SALAH’S MOMENT OF HISTORY TO JOIN THE GREATS

Salah’s 40th puts him up with Rush and Hunt in Anfield record books as Liverpool roar on

MO SALAH became the first Liverpool player since Ian Rush to score 40 goals in a season as Jurgen Klopp’s side preserved the Premier League’s only unbeaten home record this season.

Sadio Mane got the Champions League semi-finalists off to a perfect start with an early opening goal before Salah set all kinds of milestones with a brilliant header to seal the points after 69 minutes. Roberto Firmino capped Liverpool’s fine week with a late third.

Salah’s effort was the Egyptian’s 30th Premier League goal of the campaign and his overall tally puts him in an exclusive 40-club at Anfield with Roger Hunt and Rush, who achieved the feat most recently in 1987.

Liverpool are now only one point behind second-placed Manchester United and two more wins in their remaining four League games will confirm a top-four finish.

More records could fall to Salah in the coming weeks, including the highest goals total in a Premier League season — 34 shared by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole — and the 47 scored in all competitions by Rush for Liverpool in 1983-84.

After Anfield had shown its respect to the 96 Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough 29 years ago today, Klopp’s side hit their strides quickly. He made only one change from the line-up that won at Manchester City to clinch a Champions League semi-final place in midweek, a clear signal he was not expecting any hangover, and the players justified his faith with a rattling fast start.

Salah had already threatened Bournemouth twice — denied by an excellent block from Steve Cook, then prodding a shot wide — when the home side took the lead after seven minutes. Mane often been the poor relation in Liverpool’s dazzling front three this season but licensed to operate more centrally, he struck early.

Jordan Henderson’s curved cross bypassed the visitors’ defence and though Asmir Begovic parried Mane’s close-range header, the goalkeeper was powerless as the ball dropped back to the Senegal forward who dispatched the rebound with glee. It was his 17th goal of the season.

Damage limitation seemed to be the name of the game for Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth with a fiveman defence and lone striker Jermain Defoe withdrawn so deep the visitors had every player back in their own half.

Salah seemed especially frustrated as he tried to put more pressure on Harry Kane in what is becoming a spiky race for the Premier League’s Golden Boot, a prize the Tottenham man has won for the past two seasons.

Nathan Ake was alert to get the final touch when Firmino threatened to play in Salah and the Egyptian’s frustration was clear when he elected to shoot midway through the half instead of passing to a better placed team-mate, his effort rising over the crossbar.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was the surprising free-kick taker when Henderson was fouled just outside the box and his on-target effort was scrambled away by Begovic.

Salah had one other effort before half-time that tested Begovic but Mane looked the more dangerous customer, snapping a decent firsttime shot just wide when played in by Gini Wijnaldum.

Bournemouth were doing a passable impression of how Roma might try to stifle Liverpool in their Champions League semifinal first leg at Anfield a week on Tuesday. Wing-backs Ryan Fraser and Charlie Daniels prioritised defending over bombing forward.

Their only threats to Liverpool came from a couple of well delivered corners and a long-range shot from their former Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe that fizzed over.

A header from Josh King soon after the restart caused Liverhas pool’s defence more problems than anything previously as it drifted past the post with Loris Karius beaten.

Virgil van Dijk, tried to take matters into his own hands, but his fierce strike from distance was just a little too high to trouble Begovic.

Howe made his first change after 57 minutes, withdrawing Ibe for Lys Mousset. King dropped into Ibe’s old position on the left which allowed Defoe the chance to play in his favoured centre-forward’s berth.

At the other end Salah, who had scored in his previous six games at Anfield, ran through the defence but when it was time to pull the trigger, his final effort was too tame to beat Begovic. The watchable Salah-

Ake contest took a twist when the Bournemouth defender appeared to nudge his opponent in the box.

Salah went tumbling in spectacular fashion and threw his arms out in exasperation when no penalty was awarded.

In the next Liverpool attack, Alexander-Arnold swung over a cross from the right-hand side midway in Bournemouth’s half. Salah isn’t noted in particular for his power in the air but he peeled off the back of Ake and guided a clever header over the despairing Begovic.

Firmino should have added a third goal after 74 minutes when put clean through by Henderson, but Ake cleared off the line.

No matter, the Brazilian put away the third from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass. LIverpooL (4-3-3): Karius 6.5; Alexander-Arnold 8, Lovren 6 (Klaven 83min), Van Dijk 6.5, Robertson 7; Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Henderson 6.5, Wijnaldum 6.5; Salah 7, Firmino 6.5 (Solanke 90), Mane 7 (Milner 77, 6). Booked: Oxlade-Chamberlain. Subs (not used): Mignolet, Moreno, Ings, Woodburn. BoUrnemoUtH (5-4-1): Begovic 6.5; Fraser 6.5, Francis 6, S Cook 7, Ake 7.5, Daniels 6; Defoe 5.5 (Wilson 70, 6), L Cook 6 (Surman 73, 6), Gosling 6, Ibe 6 (Mousset 58 5.5); King 6. Booked: Ake. Subs (not used): Boruc, Pugh, Smith, Simpson. referee: C Kavanagh 7.