LIVERPOOL — Liverpool had 150 million reasons to offload Mohamed Salah to Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad in the summer. But, by scoring twice in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Everton, the Egypt international underlined just how important he is for Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Everton, reduced to 10 men before half-time following Ashley Young’s dismissal for two yellow cards — both for fouls on Luis Díaz — fought desperately to emerge from the 243rd Merseyside derby with at least a point. Manager Sean Dyche even replaced two wingers with defenders at half-time to pack his defence in an attempt to frustrate the home side.
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But Salah, once again, provided the breakthrough for Liverpool by scoring a 75th-minute penalty after a VAR review identified a handball by Michael Keane. Salah’s second goal, on a breakaway seven minutes into stoppage time, merely confirmed the result. But without his opener, Liverpool might well have thrown away two crucial points in their bid to win the Premier League title.
“Today was not his [Salah’s] best game,” Klopp said. “But you need someone who gets the ball over the line and he was that man again. He will never stop, that’s his nature.”
The 31-year-old has won everything worth winning in the domestic game since arriving at Liverpool from Roma in 2017 and much of that success has been down to the contribution he has made during his six seasons at the club. He has scored 194 times in all competitions for Liverpool and registered 78 assists, while his two goals against Everton saw him first move level with, and then go past, legends Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard with 105 at Anfield.
Salah now has 11 Premier League goal involvements from nine games already this season — seven goals and four assists — and has scored or assisted in each of last 13 Premier League home games. In six seasons, he has broken the 20-goal mark in the Premier League on four occasions and hit 19 on each of the campaigns when he fell short. He has been the model of consistency for a team that has won every trophy it has competed for in that time.
When Liverpool require a goal, they can usually rely on Salah to find something when it is needed most.
“Great players do [step up when needed],” Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk said after the Everton game. “This season, or towards end of last season, he [Salah] missed a couple of penalties, but to step up and deliver is something we need.”
