Mohamed Salah helps Liverpool find their groove; Tottenham, Leicester slip up

Liverpool stayed in touch with Premier League leaders Manchester City as Mohamed Salah’s double earned them a comfortable 3-1 win at West Ham United but Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur both suffered disappointing defeats on Sunday.

Chelsea’s new manager Thomas Tuchel enjoyed his first victory as his side eased to a 2-0 win at home to Burnley.

For the second time in four days Liverpool enjoyed a visit to the capital as they followed Thursday’s 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur with another dominant display.

𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓, 𝐖𝐎𝐖! 🔥

An 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 breakaway goal, finished in incredible style by @MoSalah 😱👏 pic.twitter.com/FVIk8o9ozF

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 31, 2021

After five league games without a win had considerably weakened Liverpool’s grip on their title, they are suddenly ticking over again and with Manchester City visiting Anfield next weekend their hopes of defending their crown are intact.

“We spoke a lot in the last few weeks, as you can imagine,” Klopp said. “These boys are a really good group. They are not happy with not being successful.

“They always have the right attitude. But they need the right information as well. Now we have a found a way again to be uncomfortable for other teams.”

Salah, who had not registered in the league since December, scored two majestic goals after the break before Gini Wijnaldum added a third. Craig Dawson’s late goal was little consolation for West Ham whose four-game winning league run ended abruptly.

👑 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗚𝗬𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 👑@MoSalah has now netted 2⃣0⃣ goals in 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 successive seasons for us 👏⚽️ pic.twitter.com/1C58RYGhiT

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 31, 2021

Leeds United have been hit or miss this season but were in the groove as they beat Leicester City 3-1 away despite going behind to a Harvey Barnes goal.

Patrick Bamford scored one and created two for Leeds to end Leicester’s seven-match unbeaten run, denying Brendan Rodgers’ side a move up to second in the Premier League.

“We were cheap with the ball today and then we give away disappointing goals, from our perspective,” Rodgers said.

Leeds have won nine of their 20 #PL matches this season – the last promoted side with more victories at this stage of a season was Wigan in 2005/06 (11 wins)#LEILEE pic.twitter.com/QJO17NwuMu

— Premier League (@premierleague) February 1, 2021

Tottenham became the first side to lose at Brighton and Hove Albion in the league this season as they went down 1-0.

It was a dreadfully disappointing display by Jose Mourinho’s side who rarely looked like avoiding defeat after Leandro Trossard put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute.

Seventeenth-placed Brighton’s win was dreadful news for the bottom three clubs as they are put seven points between themselves and the relegation zone.

Tottenham remain in sixth place but after leading the table in December they are now 11 points adrift of Manchester City and six points off the top four.

Brighton making their 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 start count ✨#BHATOT // @OfficialBHAFC pic.twitter.com/ELlo2OM6pO

— Premier League (@premierleague) January 31, 2021

“Not good in the first half, better in the second. We didn’t start well, we started with some mistakes that led to a ball that hit the post and then the goal,” Mourinho said.

“The team showed in the first half that it was too sad to play football. When you are too sad, you have no energy, enthusiasm or confidence, and that was what the team showed in the first half.”

Chelsea moved up to seventh as goals by Spanish defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso were enough to beat Burnley.

“Well the performance itself, for me it was very complete, both defensively and offensively,” Tuchel said.