Results
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Liverpool maintained their best start to the season as Mohammad Salah, back at his dazzling best, scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Bournemouth that took them to the top of the Premier League yesterday.
Later, Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-0, giving them their first defeat of the season.
This ensured Liverpool now lead the table by one point and threw the race for leadership of the Premier League wide open.
Earlier, Salah set Liverpool on their way in the 25th minute, latching on to the rebound after Roberto Firmino’s 30-metre shot was palmed into his path by Asmir Begovic, even though television replays showed the Egyptian to be marginally offside when he pounced. There was no argument about his second straight after the interval when Firmino again freed him to maraud on goal and fire into the corner, with the help of the slightest nick off Nathan Ake’s heel.
After the unfortunate Steve Cook diverted Andy Robertson’s cross past Begovic for an own goal, Salah worked his real magic, outmuscling Cook to get to Adam Lallana’s through ball before dancing nimbly around Begovic and slotting home.
Salah’s treble at the Vitality Stadium ■ put him on 10 goals for the season, matching Arsenal’s PierreEmerick Aubameyang at the top of the scoring charts.
Against tough, seventh-placed opponents, Jurgen Klopp’s side went a 17th straight league match unbeaten, equalling their club record set 10 years ago, and emulated their 4-0 thrashing of the Cherries in the corresponding fixture last season. It put Liverpool a point clear of Manchester City at the summit on 42 points. “I scored three goals, we went top of the table and we kept a clean sheet,” said the Egyptian Salah. “It was a fantastic result. I enjoyed the last one the most. I was calm. I know everyone has high expectations for me but the most important thing is to win each game and that we are top of the table.”
Salah was named man of the match but refused to accept the reward, and instead he gave it to James Milner to mark his 500th Premier League appearance. “I have to congratulate him for his amazing career,” Salah said Bournemouth 0 Liverpool 4 Arsenal 1 Huddersfield 0 Burnley 1 Brighton 0 Cardiff 1 Southampton 0 Manchester United 4 Fulham 1 West Ham 3 Crystal Palace 2 Chelsea 2 Man City 0
Playing later
Leicester City v Tottenham Hotspur of Milner. “I hope I have more games like this in my career, but I will not take the award from him.”
Reds manager Klopp was delighted too. “It was a very mature game,” he told Sky Sports. “It was a very controlled first half, we scored a goal and controlled the game. We were not completely happy with the rhythm. We made changes and wanted to do more but there was a lot of good counter pressing.
In their game against Manchester City later last night, Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante struck from just inside the box late in the first half to give the Blues their first goal and see Manchester City towards their first defeat of the season.
Later David Luiz headed in from the corner in the second half to give Chelsea their second goal.