Salah double opens nine-point gap for Liverpool
Liverpool moved nine points clear at the top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah scored both goals in a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Bournemouth.
Salah converted a penalty after Lewis Cook tripped Cody Gakpo in the first half, then bent a wonderful finish into the far corner to make the points safe with 15 minutes to play.
Bournemouth entered the game unbeaten in 11 Premier League outings while Liverpool had gone 18 without losing, and the Cherries made the leader work for the win.
Antoine Semenyo rattled the near post with a ferocious drive in the 21st minute, and Liverpool went ahead nine minutes later, Salah keeping his cool after a long VAR check that followed Cook's trip on Gakpo.
Semenyo was then denied by Alisson as Bournemouth continued to press in the second half, but it was Justin Kluivert that missed its best chance, somehow skewing wide of an open goal after Marcus Tavernier's shot bounced off the upright.
Salah punished that miss with a curling finish from the right side of the area, sealing Liverpool's third straight league win and dealing Bournemouth its first loss since November.
Liverpool added to its advantage over Arsenal, which faces Manchester City on Monday (AEDT), and Nottingham Forest, while Bournemouth stays seventh on 40 points.
Reds boss Arne Slot said Salah demonstrated his quality by scoring both goals.
"Maybe, that second goal was the difference between the two teams," Slot said. "It was not an easy chance, and he puts it in the net, but it shows you how much quality he has.
"[It was] exactly the game we expected. They're so intense, and they keep running every second.
"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 controlled the game.
"It is a good team and a good manager. I am very happy that we could keep a clean sheet and score two goals."
