Arne Slot says Mohamed Salah demonstrated his quality after scoring both goals to clinch a 2-0 win over Bournemouth that moved Liverpool nine points clear at the top of the Premier League. (More Football News)
Salah netted in both halves to earn the Reds a third cons𒀰ecutive win in the top flight, converting a first-half penalty after Lewis Cook tripped Cody Gakpo, before curling in a stunni🐽ng second 15 minutes from time.
Salah has ꦕnow scored 11 Premier League goals against Bournemouth; the seventh side he has netted 10 or more against in the competition. Only Alan Shearer🐷 (12) has scored double figures against more different opponents in Premier League history.
The Egyptian also rꦕeached 20 or more Premier League goals in a single season for the fifth time (also 2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2021-22).
&q𓆏uot;Maybe, that second goal was the difference between the two teams," Slot told Sky Sports. "It was not anꦰ easy chance, and he puts it in the net, but it shows you how much quality he has."
It was a victory that extended Liverpool's unbeaten streak to 19 ga❀mes in the league (won 14, drawn five), while they have not lost any of their last 14 Premier League games on the road (won nine, drawn five), though they were made to work hard for the three points at the Vitality Stadium.
"[It was] exactly the game we expected. They're so ꦑintense, and they keep running every second𓆏," Slot added. "I said before the game when we were 3-0 up at Anfield at half-time, they kept on running.
"We had to play on top of our abilities, and we needed a bit of luck to win this game. They were constantly trying to do things. I didn't think we c༒ontrolled the game.
"It is a good team and a goo♕d manager. I am very happy that we could keep a clean sheet and score two goals."
Bournemouth𝄹, meanwhile, saw th🌟eir 11-match unbeaten run in the top-flight ended by Saturday's result - missing the chance to move into the top four, with Newcastle United losing to Fulham, and Chelsea and Manchester City not playing until later in the weekend.
Indeed, the Cherries have only lost two leag🌞ue games by two or more goals this💯 season - both of which have been to Liverpool (3-0 in September, 2-0 today).
They had chances, though, with Antoine Semenyo and Marcus Tavernier both striking the post, while David Brooks had a goal ruled out for offside and Justin Kluivert, who had scored in three consecutive Premier League games, missed a𓆏n empty goal.
Bournemouth have now hit the woodwork 16 times in the Premier League thi𓄧s season, the outright most of any side.
"[It is] disapp♑ointing when you lose a game," Andoni Iraola told Sky Sports. "Small things didn't go for us. We have gi🔥ven ourselves a chance, but it hasn't been enough.
"Key moments, you can score and ma🥂ke the difference. But we have not scored and in the end - against teams like Liverpool - you need to punish them whenever you have the chance.
"The way the players performed; everyone can see iꦦt has been a high-level game. We have a week to prepare for the game against E𓆉verton in the FA Cup. Everton have been doing well, so it's a difficult draw for us."
