Liverpool put four past Bournemouth on Sunday evening and registered their fourth away win on the trot in the Premier League. Liverpool needed a win to get themselves up into the top-4 and goals from Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino ensured they skipped past Burnley and Arsenal in the process.
This win was undoubtedly such a motivation given that the Reds had only managed a 1-1 and 0-0 draw against Everton and West Brom earlier this month.
The floodgates opened in as early as the 20th min when Philippe Coutinho – who struck the post with a well-taken free-kick earlier in the game – scored with a neat finish right at the near post. The Brazilian has now been involved directly in 14 goals in his last 10 away games for the Reds with 8 goals and 6 assists.
Just six minutes later, Liverpool were two up, courtesy of Wijnaldum’s lovely flick into the area and Roberto Firmino’s brilliant effort to keep the ball in play. There still was a lot of work to be done and Lovren made sure he gave his side a comfort.
Bournemouth responded with purpose and a swift counter-attack saw Jermain Defoe go head to head against Simon Mignolet, only to be denied by the frame of the post. His defeat proved costly as Mohamed Salah scored Liverpool’s third soon after getting past Charlie Daniels with ease. With the goal, Salah became the first Premier League player to score 20 goals in all competition this season.
The Egyptian literally toyed with the left-back on the right channel and Daniels didn’t even cope with Salah’s pace and trickery. The scoreline would have been more had Liverpool been a bit precise. Salah, on his part, came close to scoring a couple of times, but his shot flew far from the post.
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, on the other hand, struck the post and Roberto Firmino too saw his shot get deflected off a Bournemouth defender. The Brazilian eventually put the final nail on Bournemouth’s coffin with a well-placed header.
The Reds dominated the proceedings right from the first whistle and managed 21 shots on goal throughout the game, with 7 of them coming on target. A well-deserved victory to say the least and this is how fans reacted to the win.
Fuck off barca hahaha
— Jãck (@ffsTrentAA) December 17, 2017
Look at his celebration or lack of. Couldnt even crack a smile.He doesn’t care 1 bit about us
— TheRedArrows (@TimeRchangin) December 17, 2017
Fifty goals this season by Fab Four before Christmas.
Mohamed Salah: 20 goals, 4 assists
Roberto Firmino: 13 goals, 7 assists
Philippe Coutinho: 10 goals, 7 assists.
Sadio Mane: 7 goals, 4 assists.To another fifty, hopefully.
— Debkalpa Banerjee (@debkalpa96) December 17, 2017
Philippe Coutinho is the player with the best close control in the English Premier League. Hazard is the better overall dribbler due to lower center of gravity and stronger physique, but if you don’t know the difference between close control and dribbling please don’t come at me.
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStat) December 17, 2017
And then there was separate praise for Mohamed Salah as well.
Eden Hazard has never reached 20 goals in a season for Chelsea.
Mo Salah has scored 20 before Christmas Day. pic.twitter.com/0GpVephXL4
— bet365 (@bet365) December 17, 2017
Salah has more goals than Morata and Lacazette combined ☕️
— – (@lfcwool) December 17, 2017
Mohamad Salah made Egyptians prefer Twitter rather than Facebook.
— (@FA_LFC) December 17, 2017
What a player and signing for Liverpool! This Chelsea “reject” has 20 goals already this year that’s more than Chelsea “superstar” Hazard has ever gotten a season and it’s not even Christmas Day yet. Lol !
— Jurgen Meister (@SS_LFC) December 17, 2017
Messi goes zip zag, Salah goes straight like rocket.
— Rajesh Mappu (@Rajesh23MD) December 18, 2017
I’m a United fan but you can’t deny Salah has had the biggest impact of any signing. Class player.
— SLB88 (@Busby_88) December 17, 2017
Just goes to show how strong we can be. I had Ox, Coutinho & Firmino above him today.
— Chad Honey (@TH3B1GV) December 17, 2017
Alright this is kind of unfair now. Coutinho got both a goal and assist and had a better game.
— ¹⁰ (@CoutinhoPrime) December 17, 2017
As much as Iove Salah anyone who watched the game tonight would say that the Ox was outstanding!!! He deserved the motm
— DannyDean (@dannydean_1997) December 17, 2017
Salah deserves a knighthood
— Liverpool GFN (@LiverpoolGFN) December 17, 2017
Announce Salah 120 years contract
— Canrius ❄️⛄ (@firmihoe) December 17, 2017
