African players in Europe: Salah brace rescues Liverpool

Ghanaians Thomas Partey and Jordan Ayew, Senegalese Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson and Nigerian Alex Iwobi also netted. Salah inspired a 3-2 comeback victory to raise his league tally to 10 goals - two less than chart-topper Erling Haaland from Manchester City. There are four Africans among top eight. Here, AFP Sport highlights some African headline-makers in the major European leagues:

ENGLAND

MOHAMED SALAH (Liverpool)

The Egypt forward propelled Liverpool to an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League as his brace inspired a win at Southampton. Arne Slot's side were in danger of shock defeat to the bottom club after falling 2-1 behind early in the second half. But Salah hauled Liverpool level in the 65th minute, converting Ryan Gravenberch's pass with a clinical finish. Salah sealed the Reds' 10th win in 12 league games this season in the 83rd minute, netting his 12th goal of the season with a nerveless penalty.

THOMAS PARTEY (Arsenal)

The midfielder scored for the first time since August as Arsenal got back on track with a 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest. Partey doubled the Gunners' lead in the 52nd minute, taking Bukayo Saka's pass and curling a fine finish past Forest keeper Matz Sels from 20 yards. The 31-year-old's second goal this term - his other came in a win at Aston Villa - put Mikel Arteta's team on course for a first win in five league games.

ISMAILA SARR (Crystal Palace)

The winger netted in a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa as he finally ended his Premier League goal drought since a close-season move from Marseille. Sarr put Palace ahead in the fourth minute at Villa Park, dispatching Jean-Philippe Mateta's pass to finally get off the mark in the top-flight at the 12th attempt. The 26-year-old's only other goal for Palace came in the League Cup against second-tier Norwich in August.

ITALY

ADEMOLA LOOKMAN (Atalanta)

Nigerian international Lookman scored his team's third goal in a 3-1 win at Parma to help Atalanta briefly take top spot in Serie A on Saturday. It was a case of third time lucky for Lookman as he struck in the 75th minute from close-range after a cross from Juan Cuadrado -– earlier in the game he had the ball in the net twice but both were ruled out for offside.

FRANCE

HAMED TRAORE (Auxerre)

The Ivory Coast international snatched Auxerre a 1-0 win over Angers with a stoppage-time header for his sixth goal in 10 games since arriving on a season-long loan from Bournemouth. Traore is one goal shy of matching his career-high of seven he scored for Sassuolo in the 2021-22 season.