Mohamed Salah registered his 30th Premier League of the season as red-hot Liverpool comfortably beat Bournemouth 3-0 in a relatively on-sided game at Anfield on Saturday evening.

Jurgen Klopp’s team selection for the tie against the Cherries raised a few eyebrows as it was the same XI that had beaten Manchester City 2-1 in midweek and it didn’t take long for the Reds to assert their dominance.

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Sadio Mane opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute as the Senegalese found the back of the net after Bournemouth custodian Asmir Begovic had initially made a smart stop but the Bosnian was powerless to prevent the Liverpool winger from tapping in the rebound.

The Kop was roaring with delight after seeing their beloved Reds go ahead so early but if they were expecting a rout, they were sorely disappointed for Eddie Howe’s men kept their discipline and shape to frustrate the hosts.

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At half-time, despite Liverpool clearly in the ascendancy, the score read 1-0 in favour of the Reds and the home crowd was desperate to see a quick goal to calm the nerves.

The second came and it was the familiar shape of Salah wheeling away in celebration in the 69th minute to calm the nerves of the home support and effectively confirm the three points.

The Egyptian winger’s dazzled the Premier League with his mazy dribbles and exquisite finishes but this time he used his head, both literally and figuratively, as he headed Trent Alexander-Arnold’s early cross over the stranded Begovic to close within a goal of Luis Suarez’s record.

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The former Liverpool striker memorably scored 31 in one season and while Salah had plenty of chances to match the Uruguyan’s feat on Saturday itself, but it was not to be and it would be fellow striker Roberto Firmino instead who would complete the scoreline in the 90th minute.

With the win, the Reds close to within a point of second-placed Manchester United, although the Red Devils have two games in hand, but perhaps more importantly, three clear of Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lliywhites take on league leaders Manchester City in Saturday’s late kick off.

Bournemouth still don’t look in danger of going down as they are a considerable 10 points clear of the drop zone but Eddie Howe will want his side to get back to winning ways without much delay and end the season on a high.