Salah helps Reds hold off Palace in thriller

MOHAMED Salah scored t wice as Liverpool survived an early scare to see off Crystal Palace 4- 3 and establish a seven- point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp’s men were left reeling by Andros Townsend’s 34th-minute opener which had given the visitors a surprise half-time lead. But Salah pulled Liverpool level within moments of the re-start and the leaders rode their luck to edge ahead in the 53rd minute through Roberto Firmino’s heavily-deflected strike.

James Tomkins headed Palace back level but Salah grabbed his second before James Milner was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 89th minute.

Sadio Mane appeared to secure the points for Liverpool late on but there was still time for the Eagles to reduce the deficit through substitute Max Meyer in injury time.

Manchester United were forced to cling on to beat Brighton 2-1 at Old Trafford and extend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s record since replacing Jose Mourinho to seven wins in a row.

United appeared to be coasting to victory after Paul Pogba fired them ahead from the penalty spot in the 27th minute and Marcus Rashford added a second with a delightful finish just before the break. But the Seagulls blazed back and threatened to steal a point after Pascal Gross reduced the arrears in the 72nd minute.

Cardiff replaced Newcastle in the bottom three after two goals from Fabian Schar helped Rafael Benitez’s men cruise to a 3-0 win, while Diogo Jota became the first Wolves player to score a Premier League hat-trick in a dramatic 4-3 win over Leicester, the winner being scored in the third minute of injury time.