The top two teams in the English Premier League recorded victories on Wednesday with their African players registering good performances.
Last season’s champions Manchester City recovered from their shock 1-0 loss against Southampton by outclassing Newcastle United 5-0.
Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez scored City’s second goal after 21 minutes turning in Kevin De Bruyne’s cross. City had taken a 10th minute lead through Gabriel Jesus and would add to their tally through a Federico Fernandez own goal, Raheem Sterling and the impressive David Silva who also set up two goals.
Mahrez’s goal, his 10th league goal of the season, meant that Manchester City became the first side in Premier League history to have five players with 10 or more goals in a single season.
Meanwhile, Egyptian Mohamed Salah scored twice for Liverpool and set up a goal for captain Jordan Henderson as the league champions defeated Brighton 3-1 at the Amex Stadium.
Salah’s first goal, in the 6th minute, came when Guinean midfielder Naby Keita robbed Davy Propper of possession on the edge of the area and squared to Salah for a simple finish.
Keita, who also had a good game, initiated the second goal when he dispossessed Dale Stephens in midfield and released Roberto Firmino who found Salah, and the Egyptian managed to pick out Henderson who scored in the 8th minute.
Brighton would pull back a goal through Leandro Trossard on the stroke of halftime as the hosts refused to go down easily to the champions.
Despite Brighton’s best efforts, Liverpool went further ahead when Salah nodded in a corner from substitute Andy Robertson for his 19th league goal of the season. Salah is still in the race for the Golden Boot as he is currently third on the list behind Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (20) and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (22) respectively with four games remaining.
Their respective wins mean that Liverpool maintained their 23-point at the top with 92 points from 34 games while City has 69.
Liverpool next hosts Burnley at Anfield on July 11 while City travel to face Brighton on the same day.
