On Friday, Mohamed Salah took a significant step in solidifying his status as one of the Premier League’s all-time legends by extending his contract with Liverpool for another two years.
AFP Sport examines the journey of the Egyptian superstar from being a disappointment at Chelsea to becoming an iconic figure at Anfield:
From Chelsea Disappointment to ‘Egyptian King’
Salah’s transfer to Liverpool from Roma in 2017 for £34 million wasn’t initially met with widespread enthusiasm.
His time at Chelsea saw him struggle to make a mark, appearing just 19 times before being shipped out. Despite proving himself in Italy through loan spells at Fiorentina and a permanent move to Roma, inconsistencies in his finishing remained a concern.
However, he quickly dispelled those doubts during his debut season on Merseyside, netting an impressive 44 goals.
Fast earning the nickname ‘Egyptian King’ from the Kop, Salah played a crucial role in Liverpool reaching their first Champions League final in 11 years.
Unfortunately, the European adventure ended in heartbreak as Salah was forced off the pitch with a dislocated shoulder after being tackled by Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos, just 26 minutes into the match.
Impressive Statistics
Over the past seven seasons, Salah has consistently scored over 20 goals each campaign, catapulting him to third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list with 243 goals in 394 outings.
With 184 goals in the Premier League, he stands as the joint-fifth highest scorer, and his next goal will elevate him to the title of the league’s most prolific overseas player.
In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Salah ranks among the top 10 all-time for Premier League assists, boasting 86 to his name.
At 32 years of age, Salah is on track to have one of the finest individual seasons in the history of England’s top-flight football.
With Alan Shearer and Andy Cole holding the record of 47 for most goals and assists in a single Premier League season, Salah is just three goals away with seven matches remaining, having already achieved 27 goals and 17 assists in 31 appearances.
This remarkable output has ignited discussions regarding his place among the Premier League’s elite.
This season, Salah has the potential to become the first player in history to win the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award for a third time, and he is aiming to equal Thierry Henry’s record for winning four Premier League Golden Boots.
Nonetheless, it is team success that he seeks to further enhance his legacy.
“Winning something with the team and contributing through goals is what people remember,” Salah expressed. “Winning individual awards without team success doesn’t feel meaningful.”
A second Premier League title seems imminent, adding to his already impressive collection that includes a Champions League title, an FA Cup, two League Cups, a Club World Cup, and a UEFA Super Cup during his time at Liverpool.
International Disappointment
In Egypt, Salah’s status as a hero is amplified, although he has yet to deliver glory for his nation in a major international tournament.
He has faced heartbreak twice in the finals of the African Cup of Nations.
The Pharaohs fell 2-1 to Cameroon in 2017 and were defeated in a penalty shootout by Senegal in 2022.
In a memorable moment between Liverpool teammates, Sadio Mane converted the winning penalty, while Salah was left without the opportunity to take one due to a strategy that backfired.
His impact at the World Cup has also been limited.
He returned to the 2018 tournament despite injury constraints from Ramos’ challenge, yet struggled to perform.
Four years later, Egypt was absent from Qatar after Salah missed a crucial penalty in a qualifying match against Senegal.
He is poised for another chance to make amends with an AFCON set for Morocco in December and January, followed by an expanded World Cup in 2026.
With 58 international goals to his name, Salah is just nine shy of Hossam Hassan’s national record, another milestone within his reach.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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