Weekend round-up: Sensational Salah and more Baggies woe

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah was once again the star of another hectic weekend of football.

The Egyptian ran Watford ragged on Saturday evening, as the Reds continued their top-four push.

Elsehwere there is more trouble for Alan Pardew and West Bromwich Albion, while Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea all won their FA Cup quarter-finals.

Here’s your round-up of the big talking points…

Super Salah stings the Hornets

Mohamed Salah bagged four goals in Liverpool’s 5-0 win over Watford on Saturday. The Egyptian had his side in front within four minutes, and was a dazzling array of untouchable talent throughout.

It was Messi or Maradona-esque at times. Watford defenders surrounded him but time and time again the forward got the better of them all.

Salah is already hitting levels of legendary status at Anfield, and he even provided the assist for Roberto Firmino to get on the scoresheet too.

Now on 28 goals for the campaign, the Premier League Golden Boot looks to have found a winner.

More strife for Pardew and WBA

West Bromwich Albion are now 10 points from safety with only seven games left to play after losing at Bournemouth.

It’s a dire situation, and ultimately the Baggies are all-but doomed after that seventh-straight league loss.

They’ve won just three league games all season, and undid their hard work on Saturday, falling to defeat after taking the lead at Dean Court.

Will Alan Pardew leave? Will it make a difference? After an eight-year spell in the top-tier, Baggies’ fans should start preparing for a return to the Championship.

Zaha helps Eagles’ fly

Wilfried Zaha takes Crystal Palace to a different level.

The Eagles have lost all nine games when they’ve been without their star winger, but have collected a tidy 31 points in the 22 matches he has featured.

Zaha was in top form again to guide Palace to a crucial 2-0 win away Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.

Roy Hodgson’s men still have work to do if they’re to stay up, and it goes without saying they’ll need Zaha to do that.

The 25-year-old did limp off injured at the weekend, but it’s not believed to be a long-term concern.

No upsets in the FA Cup

The FA Cup quarter-finals went to form this weekend.

Manchester United saw off Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 and Tottenham Hotspur cruised past Swansea City 3-0 on Saturday – even without Harry Kane.

Mark Hughes’ Southampton reign began with a 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic, while Chelsea needed extra-time to get past Leicester City 2-1.

Antonio Conte’s men are now favourites to win the cup having drawn a semi-final clash with the Saints.

The other tie pitches Mauricio Pochettino versus Jose Mourinho. Both managers and clubs could do with winning the cup this season, but one of them won’t even reach the final now.

Euro watch

Over on the continent, Barcelona exercised all their might with a terrific display to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0.

But it was Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the headlines by grabbing four in Real Madrid’s 6-3 win over Getafe.

Bayern Munich suffered a rare loss at RB Leipzig, for whom Liverpool-bound Naby Keita scored the opener. Michy Batshuayi again netted for Borussia Dortmund.

In Italy, Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi was also among the four-goal heroes, grabbing the quartet in a 5-0 win away at Sampdoria.

Napoli beat Genoa 1-0 to close the gap on Juventus to two points, with the Old Lady held to a 0-0 draw at SPAL.

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