Cape Town - Liverpool's hat-trick hero Mohamed Salah refused to accept his Man of the Match award and instead handed it over to James Milner on his 500th Premier League appearance, on Saturday.
The Egyptian opened the scoring in the 25th minute before adding two second-half goals with the additional help of a Steve Cook own-goal, extended Jurgen Klopp's side’s unbeaten start to the league season.
It also moves them one point ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, after Pep Guardiola's side fell to their first defeat by 2-0 at Chelsea.
Salah also became the fastest player to score 40 Premier League goals for the Reds in just 52 games - breaking Fernando Torres' benchmark of 60 games.
In a post-match interview, Salah who was named the Man of the Match refused the trophy and instead acknowledged team-mate Milner for his personal milestone in England's top-flight.
In handing the award over Salah said: "I have to congratulate him for his amazing career, he deserves it and I hope we can win something together this season but I will not take it (Man of the Match award)."
Star Muslim #Premiership Footballer ?? Mohammed Salah Awarded Man Of The Match After Scoring A Hatrick. However He Decided To Pass The Award To His Colleague Milner who made his 500th appearance..
— Sheikh Abdul Azeez (@shaikazeez8095) December 9, 2018
What A True Gent, All round team player @MoSalah & Great Character ???? pic.twitter.com/E6Saw0DdbR
Definition of class: @MoSalah gets a hat-trick then gives his man of the match award to James Milner who played his 500th game. True class. Great human. Inspired me to want to be & do better @LFC #LFC #LiverpoolFC #football pic.twitter.com/EsLSMpYk5C
— Rob Moore (@robprogressive) December 8, 2018
Mohamed Salah has just refused the MOTM award and given it to James Milner for his 500th game.
— Oliver Bond (@Oliver__Bond) December 8, 2018
A classy gesture from a classy man. Well in Mo. ??
Mohamed Salah refusing the MOTM award and insisting Milner get it for his 500 games... oh man... how can you not LOVE this guy???
— Muhammad Butt (@muhammadbutt) December 8, 2018
This man @MoSalah is something else. Handing over his MOTM award to Milner to commemorate is 500th appearance, not many players do stuff like that. Special human being #BOULIV #LFC #Salah
— Darren Looney (@Darren95Looney) December 8, 2018
He has just single handedly destroyed Bournemouth but wouldn’t take the man of the match because Milner deserved it more for 500 premier league appearances....
— Lord Richard Cole (@coley270690) December 8, 2018
I love you @MoSalah ????????
Fastest to 40 #PL goals for Liverpool
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 9, 2018
52 appearances - @MoSalah
60 appearances - Fernando Torres
64 appearances - Daniel Sturridge pic.twitter.com/pHJk9WDGXI