Mohamed Salah hit a hat-trick as Liverpool cruised to a 4-0 win at Bournemouth.

A quiet encounter sparked into life on the 25th minute when the Egyptian slotted past Asmir Begovic, who had parried a Roberto Firmino drive into his path. He doubled the Reds’ lead after the half-time interval with a composed finish before Cherries defender Steve Cook later backheeled the ball into his own net. Salah finished off the rout as he rounded Begovic twice before firing past Nathan Ake on the goal line to send Jurgen Klopp’s side top of the Premier League table. Here were the key talking points from the Vitality Stadium:

Salah clicks into gear again

  Mohamed Salah was simply too good in for this Bournemouth defence, as he netted a hat-trick and was involved in the build up for the third Liverpool goal. It would have been easy to suggest that the Egyptian would struggle to match the feats of his debut season after winning the Golden Boot with 32 league goals. Already with 10 league goals and four assists to his name from 16 matches, a man-of-the-match performance showed a return to Salah’s previous flourish. His third goal, sitting Asmir Begovic down not once but twice en route to tapping home, suggested that the Reds’ talisman is clicking into gear once more.

YouTube star steps out from the screen

  After gorging on an array of online video clips and taking a temporary allegiance to RB Leipzig, Liverpool fans had invested heavily in Naby Keita’s arrival. The Guinea international’s bedding-in period took slightly longer than first anticipated but he has finally evolved beyond the YouTube highlights package. His highlights reel from Wednesday’s win over Burnley was impressive enough, but the midfielder appeared to have found his feet in the South Coast showing. With a pile-up of games over the Christmas period starting in earnest, Jurgen Klopp will be grateful for an additional challenge in the middle of the park.

Milner still flawless at 500

  There are few positions that James Milner has played in his Liverpool career. On a 500th Premier League appearance, the 32-year-old again showed his versatility and intelligence with a faultless performance in an unfamiliar role. Since joining from Manchester City on a free transfer, Milner has operated in an array of midfield roles as well as a stint on the left-hand side of defence. Slotting in at right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold rested, he remains unfazed by these positional switches and even welcomes these challenge to his abilities. Milner’s presence also doubles up as a lucky charm with his personal record of not losing in any of the 50 top-flight games that he has found the target.

All about Napoli now

  With a comfortable lunchtime rout negotiated, Liverpool can turn their focus solely to Tuesday’s decisive Champions League showdown with Napoli. An abject away record in Europe’s elite club competition has left them requiring either a one-nil lead or a two-goal advantage to progress from the group stages. Anfield will be called upon to provide an atmosphere befitting of a true European night but there will be no shortage of motivation on the strength of this result. Salah’s hat-trick and the general positive manner of the attacking performance sets Klopp’s side up nicely for the visit of the Serie A outfit in three days’ time.