Liverpool overcame Bournemouth 2-0 on Saturday thanks to Mohamed Salah’s two goals, while third-placed Nottingham Forest crushed Brighton 7-0. Salah’s double surpassed Frank Lampard as the sixth best Premier League striker with 178, advancing Liverpool towards a record 20th English top-flight title. Bournemouth had won its last 12 games in all competitions and defeated Arsenal and Manchester City at home this season.
The Cherries missed two chances before halftime thanks to Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier. Bournemouth were also upset with the penalty that opened the scoring on the half-hour mark. Cody Gakpo appeared to clip his heels as he approached the box rather than being tripped by Lewis Cook. VAR did not reverse referee Darren England’s decision to direct to the spot, and Salah scored his 20th Premier League goal with a powerful shot.
Bournemouth
Bournemouth struggled to score after halftime, with Justin Kluivert missing two chances and Tavernier’s shot hitting the post. Salah cut inside onto his left foot and curled into the top corner to seal a huge three points in the title chase. “It feels good to be scoring goals, to be winning, but my main target this season is to win the Premier League with the team, so we must keep going,” said Mohamed Salah, whose future at Liverpool is uncertain. Arsenal, now in second place, must overcome Arne Slot’s team and face reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Forest moved level on points with Arsenal after a thrilling City Ground win over Brighton. Last Saturday, Nuno Espirito Santo’s team lost 5-0 against Bournemouth, but Chris Wood scored a hat-trick to bounce back. Morgan Gibbs-White, Neco Williams, and Jota Silva scored for Forest after Lewis Dunk’s own goal started the scoring. “After what happened last week, the answer was good,” said Forest management. “You get punched, you get up – fantastic!” Fifth-placed Newcastle lost 2-1 at home to Fulham to fall six points behind the two-time European champions, who are on course for the Champions League.
Jacob Murphy
Jacob Murphy put Newcastle in ahead at St. James’ Park, but Fulham responded with goals from Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz to move up to ninth and within four points of the top six. Everton’s relegation worries in their final season at Goodison Park have been eased after a 4-0 win over Leicester. David Moyes won his third game in four since returning to Everton as Abdoulaye Doucoure scored after 10 seconds. Beto then scored twice before halftime on some poor Leicester defending, and Iliman Ndiaye completed a stunning triumph in stoppage time.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s goal helped Wolves escape the bottom three from Leicester, defeating Aston Villa 1-0. After reaching the Champions League last 16 in midweek, Villa have lost seven straight after a European game, reducing their prospects of returning next season. Since Southampton won their first league match since November 2-1 at Portman Road, Ipswich look doomed. Saints are still 10 points from safety, but Paul Onuachu’s winner three minutes from time moved them within seven of second-bottom Ipswich.
