Salah double helps champions sink Brighton

Liverpool moved a step closer in their quest to overhaul Manchester City’s record Premier League points total of 100 after two goals from Mohamed Salah and another from Jordan Henderson earned a 3-1 victory over Brighton at the AMEX Stadium.

The Premier League champions looked on course to secure three more points with ease when they went two up inside eight minutes as Brighton, with sights set on Premier League safety, made a nightmare start.

Naby Keïta intercepted a sloppy pass from Davy Pröpper and was able to pick out Salah at the far post for a simple finish in the sixth minute of the game. Two minutes later, Henderson got in on the act with a brilliant curling shot from the edge of the penalty area to double Liverpool's lead.

Just before half-time, Brighton fought back and pulled a goal back when Leandro Trossard fired a crisp finish home from the impressive Tariq Lamptey's cross.

In the second-half, Salah’s header from Andy Robertson’s corner finally settled the encounter to leave him just three behind Leicester’s Jamie Vardy in the Golden Boot standings with four games remaining.

After their 30th Premier League win of the season, Jurgen Klopp's side reestablished their 23-point cushion over second-placed Man City, while Brighton remain in 15th, nine points clear of the relegation places.

David Silva on song in Newcastle thrashing

Manchester City returned to winning ways and moved a step closer to securing a top-four finish with a crushing 5-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.

The game was orchestrated by David Silva, giving a reminder of what City will be missing when he leaves at the end of the season. The 34-year-old provided the assist for Gabriel Jesus' opener inside 10 minutes, while Riyad Mahrez swept home the second from Kevin de Bruyne's pass, doubling Man City's lead before half-time.

In the second-half, the Magpies were not capable of causing any danger to Ederson's goal and things got worse when Federico Fernandez deflected Matt Ritchie's attempted clearance into his own net. Moments after, Silva produced the highlight of the game when he curled a free kick into the top corner in the 65th minute for the Citizens' fourth goal. Raheem Sterling came off the bench to add a fifth for City in injury-time, rolling in that man Silva's pass.

The result sees City consolidate second place, moving nine points above third-place Chelsea with four matches remaining, while Newcastle drop to 13th.

Like a fine wine 🍷

⚽️ @Cisco
🔵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/H85u4uf7DI

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 8, 2020

Egan's stoppage-time goal fans Blades' hopes of a European spot

John Egan's 93rd-minute decider earned Sheffield United a narrow 1-0 victory against Wolves to keep their European dreams alive at Bramall Lane.

The away side had earlier hit the woodwork when Ruben Neves' free-kick from just outside the penalty area bounced off the top of the crossbar. It looked like the game was heading for a goalless draw, but Egan nodded home Oliver Norwood’s corner following a sustained period of Blades pressure to give Chris Wilder’s side a crucial victory.

The win moved the hosts above Arsenal into seventh place and just a point behind their opponents Wolves in sixth.

Burnley's hopes of European qualification are boosted, while West Ham miss a trick

West Ham blew the chance to climb further away from relegation trouble after Jay Rodriguez fired Burnley to a 1-0 victory at the Olympic Stadium.

Rodriguez’s first-half goal settled the game, his bullet header crashing in off the underside of the crossbar. After the goal, the Hammers could not find a way through a resolute Clarets defence that was superbly marshalled by Nick Pope - who collected his 14th clean sheet of the season.

The visitors moved to ninth in the Premier League table, while West Ham linger just four points above the relegation zone with four games remaining.