Sunday’s briefing: Salah scores landmark Liverpool goal and Wolves lose again

Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah scored his 250th goal for the club as the reigning champions ended their wait for a Premier League victory.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank found himself having to defend his players after they were booed off following a 1-0 home defeat by Chelsea.

At the other end of the table, Wolves counterpart Vitor Pereira was left shell-shocked as Fulham piled further pressure on to his shoulders.

Milestone for Mo

Liverpool boss Arne Slot paid tribute to Mohamed Salah after his 250th goal for the club helped stop the rot with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

The Reds came, who into the match with their Premier League title defence in tatters after four successive defeats, went ahead through Salah’s landmark effort just before half-time courtesy of a howler from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and Ryan Gravenberch’s deflected effort after the break earned a first league win since September 20.

Salah became just the third Liverpool player to score 250 goals for the club, following in the footsteps of Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.

Slot said: “That’s almost unbelievable. If you score 250 goals, it is already unbelievable, let alone for one club. You don’t see that much in football anymore.

“And of course, it’s special for him to score his 250th. For him to score, it’s not even that special because that’s what we all know he will always do.”

Frank exchange

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank defended Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence after they appeared to ignore him and walk down the tunnel following a 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea.

Stand-in captain Van de Ven and Spence headed towards the tunnel as their team was booed off and despite Frank seemingly telling them to thank the home support, they walked past the Dane, who stared in their direction before he turned to applaud the crowd.

Speaking afterwards, the Spurs boss said: “I think that is one of the small issues. We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence, who are doing everything they can. They perform very well so far this season and everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, so I don’t think it is a big problem.

“All the players are, of course, frustrated. They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform well, so I understand that.”

Thrown to the Wolves

Under-pressure Vitor Pereira branded 10-man Wolves’ performance in the 3-0 defeat at Fulham as their worst since he took over as boss.

Strikes from Ryan Sessegnon and Harry Wilson and Yerson Mosquera’s own goal, kept Wanderers rooted to the foot of the Premier League with just two points from their opening 10 matches, one fewer than at the same stage last season when Pereira was parachuted in to save them from the drop.

The embattled Portuguese said: “It was the worst, in my opinion. I cannot come here to have answers for everyone. I must talk to my players to understand what the problem was today.

“I can say to you I am doing my best and working hard. I cannot control time or the confidence the club has, but me and my staff are trying everything to help the team to perform and get results.”

What’s on today?

Manchester City will look to close the gap on leaders Arsenal when they welcome second-placed Bournemouth to the Etihad Stadium.

Earlier, Newcastle will attempt to secure a first league away win of the campaign when they visit struggling West Ham, who have tasted victory only once in 10 outings in all competitions to date.

North of the border, interim Celtic boss Martin O’Neill will renew his acquaintance with the Old Firm derby as they face Rangers at Hampden in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals.