Bournemouth v Liverpool LIVE: Result after Mohamed Salah's double settles Premier League clash
Can Liverpool’s march towards the title survive a testing trip to Bournemouth? Follow all the action from a huge Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium
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.
Bournemouth v Liverpool
So we’re nearly ready for kick-off at the Vitality Stadium.
A reminder of the line-ups today:
Bournemouth: Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara.
Subs: Dennis, Tavernier, Jebbison, Silcott-Duberry, Adu-Adjel, Akinmboni, Winterburn, Kinsey, Rees-Dottin.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Luis Diaz, Gakpo.
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley.
There has already been one result today, as Nottingham Forest thumped Brighton & Hove Albion 7-0 helped by a hat trick from striker Chris Wood at the City Ground on Saturday, in an emphatic bounce back from last week's humbling 5-0 loss at Bournemouth.
Forest remain third on 47 points after 24 games to consolidate their hold on a top four spot that brings Champions League football next season, while Brighton are ninth on 34.
An own goal from Lewis Dunk in the 12th minute kicked off the scoring as Brighton's skipper lunged to clear Morgan Gibbs-White's low cross and poked the ball into the net.
Gibbs-White doubled Forest's lead in the 25th minute with a glancing header from Anthony Elanga's corner.
Wood netted his first goal seven minutes later when, left completely unmarked, he headed Elanga's cross past Bart Verbruggen. Forest continued to run riot after the break and Wood tapped home Elanga's cross from close range in the 64th.
The New Zealander completed his hat trick five minutes later with a penalty, awarded after Tariq Lamptey bundled Gibbs-White to the ground. Neco Williams got the sixth in the 89th and Jota Silva put the icing on the cake with a low strike in added time.
Liverpool want Salah to stay, insists Slot
Slot is not involved in contract negotiations as they are handled by sporting director Richard Hughes but he has made his thoughts clear to Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, who has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid.
"I speak with these players, I speak with them, not every day like Richard but quite a lot, and it would be ridiculous if in all these times I speak to them we have never spoken about the future," added the Dutchman ahead of the tough-looking trip to Bournemouth.
"But as you probably know, that is not something I am going to discuss. But it is not only with the three that are out of contract, you also talk about future things with other players as well.
"It's a non-stop process talking to your players, but it is also a non-stop process that I will not talk about in public."
Liverpool want Salah to stay, insists Slot
"I would be surprised if there was anyone wherever around the world saying 'We don't want Mo Salah'," was Slot's response to the Saudi sports minister's charm offensive.
"He's doing so well for so many years that everyone probably wants him. He has done so well without my advice for a long time so he can probably keep doing what is best for his career even without my advice.
"But my advice to him would be different to the one (man) you just mentioned.
"Everyone wants him, including us - we want him to extend, of course. That is clear.
"I am not surprised that Saudi wants him - but I would not be surprised if other countries wanted him as well.
"He is old enough and wise enough and done so many smart things in his career he will make the right decision for himself and hopefully for us as well."
Liverpool want Salah to stay, insists Slot
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot wants Mohamed Salah to extend his contract with the Premier League leaders and has spoken to him, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold about their futures.
The trio are all out of contract in the summer and Salah, in particular, has made numerous public comments and earlier this month said a breakthrough in negotiations was "far away".
Speculation continues to link him with a mega-money move to the Saudi Pro League and on Thursday the country's sports minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said the Egypt international was "a big prize" and the country "would love to have him".
Liverpool rejected a £150million bid from Al Ittihad in September 2023, but with time ticking down on Salah's contract, fears continue to grow he could leave for nothing at the end of the season.
Liverpool prepare for kick-off at Bournemouth
Arne Slot appears in good spirits as he inspects his surroundings on the south coast, in what it’s probably safe to say is his first ever visit to the Vitality Stadium.
Bournemouth team news
Bournemouth are understandably unchanged from the 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool team news
So Liverpool line up as expected, as Arne Slot reverts to his strongest side having rotated in midweek. Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota return to the bench, which will be a welcome sight for fans with a busy fixture list ahead.
Bournemouth v Liverpool – confirmed line-ups
Bournemouth: Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouattara.
Subs: Dennis, Tavernier, Jebbison, Silcott-Duberry, Adu-Adjel, Akinmboni, Winterburn, Kinsey, Rees-Dottin.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Luis Diaz, Gakpo.
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Nunez, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley.
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