Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1060184
30 MANCHESTER United's vic- tory against Fulham yester- day – their first in five league matches - moved them up to sixth in the table and lifted some of the gloom that has en- veloped the club. The hosts took the lead after 13 minutes when Ashley Young bustled his way into the penalty area and curled the ball into the far corner past Sergio Rico. Marcus Rashford set up Juan Mata for United's second, be- fore Romelu Lukaku finished from close range from Mata's low cross. Substitute Aboubakar Kamara pulled one back with a penalty after he had been fouled by An- der Herrera, but Claudio Ra- nieri's side were soon reduced to 10 men when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was dismissed for two bookable offences. England striker Rashford sealed United's victory with a powerful strike from a tight angle that beat Rico at his near post. This was the first time this season the Red Devils had won by a three-goal margin in the league, though they did beat Swiss side Young Boys 3-0 in the Champions League in Sep- tember. The last time they won by three goals in the league was on 15 January, with a 3-0 home de- feat of Stoke. This was a welcome win for United after a derby defeat by Manchester City on 11 No- vember that preceded three successive draws in the league - against Crystal Palace, South- ampton and Arsenal. That had increased the ex- ternal pressure on Mourinho, though his agent said on Fri- day the Portuguese was "very happy at the club and the club is very happy with him". MOHAMED Salah scored his second hat-trick for Liverpool to help Jurgen Klopp's side to an emphatic victory over Bourne- mouth and send them above Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. Liverpool yesterday earned an important victory to keep their championship hopes alive. Mohamed Salah was in an offside position when Roberto Firmino hit a 30-yard shot that home keeper Asmir Begovic carelessly pushed out in the di- rection of the Egypt forward. However, Salah finished clini- cally and his eighth top-flight goal of the season was allowed to stand by the officials to break the deadlock in a game the visi- tors dominated from the start. There was nothing fortui- tous about the Liverpool for- ward's second though – a com- posed finish after driving at the Bournemouth defence, while Steve Cook back-heeled the ball into his own net while attempt- ing a clearance to make it 3-0. Salah then completed his hat- trick after rounding Begovic, cutting back to beat the Bourne- mouth keeper for a second time and poking the ball past Nathan Ake on the line. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 DECEMBER 2018 SPORTS FOOTBALL Manchester United sweep aside bottom-of-the-table Fulham Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford all got on the scoresheet for Manchester United Liverpool move to the top Mohamed Salah celebrating one of his goals for Liverpool