Liverpool will be without Mohamed Salah for the festive period as the forward prepares to play in AFCON for Egypt, and it remains to be seen whether he has played his final game for the club
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah bid farewell before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations, leaving fans with a reminder of his new record.
Regardless of whether Saturday’s victory over Brighton was his swansong for the club, he ensured it was a match to remember. Despite starting on the bench at the weekend, Salah came on as an early substitute and set up Hugo Ekitike, taking his tally to 277 goal contributions for the Reds in the Premier League – a feat no other player has achieved for a single club.
Just days prior, the Egyptian ace was omitted from Liverpool’s squad for their Champions League triumph over Inter Milan. His comments after being sidelined had sparked speculation about his future at Anfield, but Slot found it easy to reinstate last season’s top scorer – and Salah’s tweet on Monday underscored his significant contribution to the club during his eight-year stint on Merseyside.
The 33-year-old’s 277 goals and assists for Liverpool put him one ahead of Wayne Rooney’s 276 for Manchester United, with Ryan Giggs (271, also for United) trailing in third. Harry Kane (259 for Tottenham) is the only other player above 250, followed by Thierry Henry (249 for Arsenal), Frank Lampard (237 for Chelsea), Sergio Aguero (231 for Manchester City) and Steven Gerrard (212 for Liverpool).
Salah’s post could be taken a number of different ways, but one of the most likely explanations is that the 33-year-old reminded fans and management about his importance to the club throughout the years.
Liverpool supporters rallied behind Salah following his social media post. “No one is taking your place at the club soon. You’re a legend indeed,” penned one fan, whilst another commented: “I don’t think many in our fanbase understand what an achievement this is.”
Salah’s impact against Brighton contributed to Liverpool’s 2-0 triumph, with Ekitike netting both strikes. The Reds currently occupy sixth position in the table, though Manchester United could overtake them should they avoid losing to Bournemouth on Monday evening.
The Egyptian’s comeback timeline hinges on his nation’s AFCON progress. The 2021 runners-up kick off their tournament against Zimbabwe on December 22, with South Africa and Angola completing their group stage fixtures.
“I think the reason why he wasn’t in Milan was his interview and the question is always – and everybody has a different opinion about that – should he be once, twice, three times, four times, four months, 12 years… every manager makes [a] different decision in that,” Arne Slot explained when addressing Salah’s situation following Saturday’s victory.
“He wasn’t involved in the game against Milan, I spoke to him yesterday and usually I never say anything about what we talk about, I am not going to make an exception now but I think actions speak louder than what has been said.
“He was in the squad again and when I had to make my first substitution, I brought him in and he performed as I think every fan – including me – would like him to perform today.”