Sensational Salah Hat-trick Sends Liverpool Top

By Max Wise

Mohamed Salah’s hat-trick inspired Liverpool to move top of the Premier League table, at least temporarily, by beating Bournemouth 4-0 at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

The win moves the Reds to 42 points from 16 games, a point above Manchester City who play away to Chelsea later on Saturday. 

Bournemouth remain seventh on 23 points, with just one win in their last five League games as a result of the defeat.

Salah's goals make him the first Liverpool player to score an away hat-trick in the Premier League since Luis Suarez recorded a same feat against Cardiff City in March 2014.

Liverpool enjoyed the better of the early exchanges but it was Bournemouth who threatened first with Alisson saving from David Brook’s shot at the near post in the 24th minute.

Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead in the 26th minute by turning in a rebound from close range after Bournemouth goalkeeper Asmir Begovic spilled Firmino’s shot, although replays showed the Egyptian was comfortably offside.

Salah got his second goal of the game three minutes after the break, getting to the end of a counter-attack to hit into the bottom right corner after receiving a pass from 30 yards out to run through the Bournemouth defence to outwit Steve Cook’s bad tackle in the process.

Bournemouth’s day went from bad to worse when Steve Cook awkwardly back-heeled Robertson’s cross into his own net in the 68th minute.

Salah completed his hat-trick in the 77th minute when he shrugged Steve Cook off the ball, beat Asmir Begovic twice and then poked the ball past Nathan Ake on the line.