African players in Europe: ‘Diving’ Salah under fire
The exaggerated fall by the reigning African Footballer of the Year angered Cardiff manager Neil Warnock as the Reds took a two-point lead over Manchester City.
Salah and attack partner Sadio Mane from Senegal failed to score, but Ivorian Wilfried Zaha and Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted as Crystal Palace upset Arsenal 3-2.
ENGLAND
MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)
The striker found himself being compared to British diver Tom Daley by the frustrated Cardiff manager after earning the penalty converted by James Milner that secured the Premier League title-chasing Reds a 2-0 win in the Welsh capital. The forward was clearly grappled inside the area by Cardiff captain Sean Morrison but the exaggerated fall left Warnock bemoaning how he had made the most of the opportunity the Bluebirds had given him. “I think the end of it was a 9.9 Tom Daley job. I don’t think he could have got much higher off the diving board at the end of it,” said the veteran manager.
WILFRIED ZAHA (Crystal Palace)
Going from Crystal Palace straight to the Champions League may seem like a big leap but it is one the forward has said he wants to make at the end of the season. The Eagles star gave a glimpse of his class in a shock 3-2 win over Arsenal, providing a fine cross which Christian Benteke ballooned over the crossbar. He then scored their second goal after making the most of a mistake by Shkodran Mustafi.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG (Arsenal)
The former African Footballer of the Year gave his side hope of rescuing a point against Palace when he scored their second goal — his 24th of the season — in the 77th minute but that incisive burst was as good as it got for the Gunners.
SPAIN
SOFIANE BOUFAL (Celta Vigo)
Moroccan striker Boufal scored a stunning winner as Celta beat Girona 2-1 in La Liga. Boufal dribbled in from the left and curled the ball into the corner for his third goal of the season to give Celta what could prove a crucial victory against one of their rivals in the battle against relegation.
KARL TOKO EKAMBI (Villarreal)/NABIL EL ZHAR (Leganes)
Cameroon forward Ekambi scored his 17th goal of the season to help Villarreal beat Leganes 2-1. Toko Ekambi guided a shot into the far corner to give Villarreal a two-goal lead before Moroccan El Zhar converted a late penalty to give Leganes brief hope of a comeback. Victory sends Villarreal up to 14th, four points clear of the relegation places.