RTE
Liverpool moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah scored twice in a 2-0 win against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
Arne Slot’s leaders were aiming to become to first team to beat their hosts in the league since November 23 and they were given a stern test en route to ending an 11-match unbeaten run for Andoni Iraola’s side.
The league’s top scorer Salah, as so often during this wonderful Liverpool season, was the difference, scoring a penalty in the first half and a brilliant solo goal in the second to secure his team’s 17th win in their 23 games, but along the way Bournemouth put up a real fight.
Things did not go the home side’s way during a first half in which they hit the post, had a goal disallowed and fell behind following a contentious penalty award.
Iraola’s side came at Liverpool early. Alisson was alert to deflect behind Justin Kluivert’s near-post drive following a poor defensive header from Trent Alexander-Arnold, the closest either side came to scoring in the opening 20 minutes, before Antoine Semenyo left Liverpool’s goalframe quaking with a bullet effort against the woodwork.
It was from a quick transition, the kind at which Bournemouth have excelled this season, that Liverpool won their penalty.
Cody Gakpo seemed to have got clear of Lewis Cook as the pair chased a long ball into the home side’s box. The Liverpool player tripped, though there was more than a suggestion that he may have stumbled over his own foot…
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