Gone in 14 seconds! Salah sets Reds on way to victory
LIVERPOOL: Mohamed Salah capitalised on some quick thinking by Liverpool to maintain his impressive scoring record at Anfield in a 2-0 win over last-place Fulham in the Premier League yesterday.
Moments after Fulham had a goal disallowed for offside, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson took a quick free kick to find right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who played in Salah to race in on goal and open the scoring in the 41st minute.
There were just 14 seconds between the flag being raised for offside and Salah finding the net.
Xherdan Shaqiri scored the other goal in the 53rd minute, a cushioned volley into the corner from Andrew Robertson’s deep cross, as unbeaten Liverpool won for the ninth time in their opening 12 games.
In six league games at home, Salah has scored in five of them — the only blank coming against title rivals Manchester City. The Egypt forward has 34 goals in 36 appearances at Anfield since joining Liverpool in the offseason of 2017.
It was a seventh straight loss for Fulham in all competitions, keeping the pressure on manager Slavisa Jokanovic heading into the two-week international break. The London team’s only win since returning to the Premier League was in late August and they haven’t scored a goal in their last three league losses.
Meanwhile Mauricio Pochettino insisted he never had any doubt goalkeeper Hugo Lloris would repay his faith after the French No.1 kept Crystal Palace at bay as Tottenham ground out a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Argentine centre-back Juan Foyth’s first senior goal 24 minutes from time was the difference between the sides as a torrential downpour affected conditions.
But Spurs needed their captain to produce a big save as the game entered stoppage time from Alexander Sorloth to secure a fifth straight Premier League away win to move just two points behind leaders Manchester City.
Lloris has been much-criticised this season as he admitted to a drink-driving charge in September and a series of errors in the Champions League have also cost Spurs on the field.
However, Pochettino has stood by the man who lifted the World Cup for France this summer.
“I am happy with him. [Players] are not machines, they can have an up or down,” said Pochettino. “Hugo is one of the best, there is no doubt.”