Mohamed Salah scored four goals and set up another in Liverpool's 5-0 victory over Watford in the Premier League on Saturday, cementing his status as the most prolific forward in Europe's leading competitions.
The Egypt international's first hat trick for Liverpool took his tally to 36 in his first season at the club, including 28 in the league.
Not far behind is Roberto Firmino, who marked the best scoring season of his career with his 23rd in all competitions against a Watford side which presented little challenge. It was an exquisite backheel from Salah's cross.
The blizzard of goals in the snow marked a swift recovery from last weekend's defeat at Manchester United. With third-place Tottenham playing in the FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday — beating Swansea 3-0 — Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool moved into third place.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Saturday, March 17, 2018. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP)
Salah's opener after four minutes was reminiscent of a Lionel Messi move.
Salah exchanged passes with Sadio Mane before chasing down the ball in the penalty area and setting off on one of those driving, jinking runs which inevitably leaves defenders on their behinds.
Miguel Britos was the unfortunate victim on this occasion, getting a worm's eye view as Salah fired an angled shot past Orestis Karnezis to become the third Liverpool player to score at least 25 Premier League goals in a single season after Luis Suarez (2013-14) and Robbie Fowler (1995-96 and 1994-95).
It was a goal so good it required a second look and many of Liverpool's substitutes left their seats on the bench to view it on a pitchside monitor.
If that was good the goal which completed his hat-trick was even better and similarly Messi-esque.
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Saturday, March 17, 2018. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP)
Mane cut in from the right to feed the ball in and, despite being surrounded by defenders and falling over, Salah somehow managed to conjure a low shot that went inside the far post.
The middle goal of his treble two minutes before half-time was less individual and more team-orientated as Andrew Robertson exchanged passes with Mane before sliding in a cross which Salah could not fail to convert.
Even at that stage it appeared the game was beyond the visitors, but Firmino made sure five minutes into the second half when he backheeled Salah's near-post cross through his legs and inside the far post, eclipsing his previous career best of 22 for Hoffenheim in 2013-14.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, celebrates scoring his second goal of the game with teammate Roberto Firmino during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Watford at Anfield, Liverpool, England, Saturday, March 17, 2018. (Anthony Devlin/PA via AP)
Roberto Pereyra's inswinging free kick on to the top of the crossbar was Watford's only moment of respite as the red tide continued to crash forward and with it, inevitably, came more Salah goals.
After completing his hat trick with some penalty area trickery the Egyptian rifled home substitute Danny Ings' rebounded shot to become the first Liverpool player since Suarez against Norwich in December 2013 to net four times in a single game.
West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez after scoring against AFC Bournemouth during the English Premier League soccer match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England, Saturday March 17, 2018. (Mark Kerton/PA via AP)
West Brom 10 points adrift after losing 2-1 to Bournemouth
West Bromwich Albion's slim hopes of Premier League survival took another hit when it surrendered the lead to lose 2-1 at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Jay Rodriguez looked set to ease the pressure on under-fire West Brom boss Alan Pardew after he opened the scoring early in the second half.
But late goals from Jordon Ibe and Junior Stanislas turned the game around for Bournemouth as the last-placed Baggies slumped to a seventh successive league loss, leaving them 10 points from safety with seven games remaining.
AFC Bournemouth's Jordon Ibe scores against West Bromwich Albion during the English Premier League soccer match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England, Saturday March 17, 2018. (Mark Kerton/PA via AP)
Venezuela striker Salomon Rondon proved a handful for Bournemouth's back line and he played a key role in the 49th-minute opener, nodding down Kieran Gibbs' cross for Rodriguez to swivel and convert from close range.
Bournemouth equalized 13 minutes from time, with a little help.
Ibe unleashed a speculative effort which West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster could only help into the corner of the net.
West Bromwich Albion's Chris Brunt, left, and AFC Bournemouth's Joshua King battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England, Saturday March 17, 2018. (Mark Kerton/PA via AP)
A point would have done little to help the visitors but they were left with nothing with two minutes remaining.
After Craig Dawson clattered Josh King around 25 meters (yards) from goal, Stanislas stepped up to expertly curl home the resulting free-kick and end mid-table Bournemouth's four-match winless run.
Everton's Wayne Rooney is helped up by referee Martin Atkinson during the English Premier League soccer match between Stoke City and Everton, at the bet365 Stadium, in Stoke, England, Saturday March 17, 2018. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Stoke loses to Everton to deepen EPL relegation fears
Stoke's relegation fears deepened as Charlie Adam was sent off for a lunge on Wayne Rooney in a snowy 2-1 loss to Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
After Adam's 30th-minute dismissal for the studs-up challenge, Cenk Tosun scored twice to end Everton's run of five straight away losses in the league.
Stoke City's Charlie Adam is shown the red card by referee Martin Atkinson during the English Premier League soccer match between Stoke City and Everton, at the bet365 Stadium, in Stoke, England, Saturday March 17, 2018. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Stoke substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had canceled out Tosun's opener but the Turkey international took his tally to four goals in three games to decide the contest in Everton's favor.
Stoke is next-from-last in the standings, three points from safety. Everton is ninth.
From centre right, Huddersfield Town's Mathias Jorgensen, Collin Quaner, Steve Mounie, Christopher Schindler and Scott Malone jump during a Crystal Palace free kick taken by Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt, during the English Premier League soccer match between Huddersfield and Crystal Palace at the John Smith's Stadium, in Huddersfield, England, Saturday March 17, 2018. (Richard Sellers/PA via AP)
Palace out of EPL drop zone with 2-0 win at Huddersfield
Luka Milivojevic converted his sixth penalty of the season to complete Crystal Palace's 2-0 win over Huddersfield that lifted his team out of the Premier League's relegation zone on Saturday.
The Serbia midfielder's latest spot kick took him to seven goals for the season, making him an unlikely star in Palace's attempt to beat the drop.
James Tomkins scored the opening goal at the John Smith's Stadium, from Milivojevic's corner, as Palace won a league game for the first time in two months to move two points clear of the bottom three. Huddersfield is only one point further ahead with seven games remaining.
Crystal Palace's Jeffrey Schlupp, left, vies for the ball with Huddersfield Town's Tom Ince, during the English Premier League soccer match between Huddersfield and Crystal Palace at the John Smith's Stadium, in Huddersfield, England, Saturday March 17, 2018. (Richard Sellers/PA via AP)
The negative for Palace was the sight of Jeffrey Schlupp and star forward Wilfried Zaha being forced off without apparent injuries. Zaha had only recently returned from injury.
Tomkins' 23rd-minute goal came when Milivojevic's corner landed at the feet of the center back, whose initial shot was saved by Huddersfield goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. Tomkins showed quick reactions to prod home the rebound.
The crucial second goal arrived in the 68th after Mathias Jorgensen was adjudged to have brought down Andros Townsend on the left edge of the area. Milivojevic made no mistake from the spot.