Bryan Mbeumo inspired Brentford to a comfortable 5-0 away win at struggling Southampton in a Premier League fixture, with Yoane Wissa also finding the net.
The Bees made their intent known at St. Mary’s Stadium with Kevin Schade putting them ahead in the sixth minute after combining well with Mikkel Damsgaard.
Cameroon international Mbeumo doubled the lead in the 62nd minute thanks to an assist by Wissa, before completing his brace seven minutes later from the penalty spot.
In a dominant display, Mbeumo turned provider for Keane Lewis-Potter in the 92nd minute before Wissa added the fifth before the final whistle.
Mohamed Salah continued his impressive goalscoring run in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw versus Manchester United.
After a goalless first half at Anfield Stadium, the Red Devils took a shock lead in the 52nd minute through Lisandro Martinez who drilled an unstoppable shot past Alisson.
The Reds restored parity through Cody Gakpo before his team took the lead in the 70th minute through Salah’s penalty following VAR’s intervention.
In the process, the Egyptian equalled Thierry Henry's tally of 175 English top-flight goals.
Regardless, the visitors remained dogged and eventually got the leveler with 10 minutes left on the clock thanks to Cote d’Ivoire international Amad Diallo.
Elsewhere, Nigeria international Taiwo Awoniyi opened his goal account in Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 away win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
With Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood giving the Reds a two-goal lead at the Molineux Stadium, the striker - who replaced Wood in the 88th minute added the third in stoppage time.
Forest have now won their last six games in the Premier League, their longest winning streak in the competition.
In Ligue I, OGC Nice got their 2025 off to a start following a 3-2 victory over Rennes with African stars Sofiane Diop and Evann Guessand on target.
Ivorian star Guessand put the home team ahead in the sixth minute after connecting to a Tanquy Ndombele cross before firing past goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.
Arnaud Kalimuendo restored parity for the visiting side in the 27th minute but Diop re-established Nice's lead in the 34th minute, while Gaetan Laborde made it three in the goal-laden first half.
Four minutes into the second half, Rennes scored their second goal through Adrien Truffert but that could not stop them from heading home with heads bowed low.
At the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Augustine Boakye bagged a brace as St. Etienne silenced Reims 3-1 to move clear of the relegation waters.
Keito Nakamura made the hosts pay for their numerous misses as he put the visitors ahead – making no mistakes in latching home to end a six-match goal drought.
But the Greens came out stronger in the second half to secure all points at stake after their Ghana import scored twice with Lucas Stassin adding the third goal.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra was among the goal scorers as Strasbourg overcame Auxerre 3-1 as Andre Ayew scored Le Havre’s consolation goal in their 5-1 defeat at Olympique Marseille.
Former African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen propelled Galatasaray to a 2-1 win over Goztepe in Turkish’s Super Lig.
A foul on Kaan Ayhan by Djamal Silva in the eighth minute ensured the referee pointed to the penalty spot after consulting VAR.
The Nigeria international stepped up to take the ensuing kick that was unstoppable by goalkeeper Mateusz Lis. Romulo cancelled the Napoli loanee’s strike but Yunus Akgun’s 61st minute winner handed the league leaders all points at stake.
Elsewhere in Turkey, Morocco international Youssef En-Nesyri scored a first-half brace as Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce triumphed 2-1 over Hatayspor.
