Mohamed Salah is back in the groove for Liverpool, with only Lionel Messi having managed more league goals across Europe’s leading divisions since the start of last season.
The Egyptian forward was at his awesome best during the Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Saturday.
He headed into that fixture without a goal in his previous three appearances across all competitions.
Salah was very much in the mood against the Cherries, though, and helped himself to another matchball.
His first of the afternoon took him to 40 Premier League goals for Liverpool since signing in the summer of 2017.
He then bagged a second, as he pulled clear of Harry Kane on 39 in the European standings, before completing his hat-trick with a composed third.
The treble against Bournemouth means that he now has 42 league goals to his name.
Only Barcelona talisman Messi can claim to have a better that return over the same period of time.
The mercurial Argentine has netted 43 times in La Liga.
Among those trailing in Salah’s wake are Edinson Cavani (38), Mauro Icardi (37), Cristiano Ronaldo (36) and Robert Lewandowski (36).
Liverpool will be hoping that there are plenty more to come from their star turn.
Salah managed 44 across all competitions last season and has now taken his tally for the current campaign to 12.
His stunning showing against Bournemouth helped Liverpool to stretch their unbeaten start to the Premier League season to 16 games and lifted them above Manchester City to the top of the table ahead of the champions’ meeting with Chelsea.
