What a signing he’s turned out to be.
With two goals against Tottenham, Mohamed Salah took his tally for the season to 28. 28 in 33 games. We’re still in the first week of February, yet most Liverpool fans probably didn’t expect him to reach 28 goals by the end of the season.
But, that’s precisely what Salah has done this season: defied expectations. Against Spurs, he defied logic with his brilliant second, weaving and eluding defenders with an agility and low centre of gravity that put you in mind of Lionel Messi. As has been the case most of the time this season, he had the finish to match too.
With his brace on Sunday, Salah now has seven goals in league games involving the top six this season. The closest to him in that particular category is a sextet of players: Marcos Alonso, Kevin De Bruyne, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Harry Kane and Leroy Sane, who all have three to their name.
Most goals in PL matches between the big six this season:
7: Salah
3: Alonso, De Bruyne, Firmino, Jesus, Kane, Sané— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) February 5, 2018
So, to have more than double than anyone else at this stage is a startling reflection of the Egyptian’s stunning debut season at Anfield. The kicker for Liverpool fans is that Manchester United have scored five goals in games against other members of the top six this season, so Salah’s haul eclipses Jose Mourinho’s entire squad. That’s some going.
Barring a borderline inconceivable Champions League triumph (I just can’t see Liverpool going all the way with that defence), the Reds are staring down the barrel of another trophy-less season. Whatever happens, Salah will be deservedly recognised for his contributions since joining from Roma last summer.
His goals against Spurs brought him to 21 league goals this season, just one behind pacesetter Harry Kane, who scored in the same match. The former Chelsea winger will run the England striker close for that individual accolade but, should he maintain his current vein of form, he will be a leading candidate for PFA Player of the Year. De Bruyne is widely seen as the man to beat there but Salah may yet have something to say about the Belgian scooping the prestigious gong.
Liverpool signed Salah for £36.9 million in the summer. It’s not a stretch to say that, in the current market, he’s probably worth close to £100m at this stage.
20 goals in 25 games 🔥
Mohamed Salah 💫 pic.twitter.com/FcfQZgaAki
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 4, 2018
