Mohamed Salah can cement his legacy as one of many Premier League’s all-time greats after extending his keep at Liverpool for one more two years on Friday.
AFP Sport appears on the Egyptian’s rise from Chelsea flop to Anfield icon:
CHELSEA FLOP TO ‘EGYPTIAN KING’
Salah’s arrival at Liverpool from Roma in 2017 for £34 million ($44 million) was not universally acclaimed on the time.
He had didn’t make an impression in a brief spell at Chelsea, the place he was reduce adrift after simply 19 appearances for the Blues.
Even after restoring his status in Italy, first on mortgage at Fiorentina, earlier than a everlasting transfer to Roma, his flashes of brilliance had been undermined by inconsistent ending.
His first season on Merseyside emphatically dispelled these doubts as Salah scored 44 objectives.
Rapidly christened the Kop’s “Egyptian King”, Salah propelled Liverpool to a primary Champions League last in 11 years.
Nonetheless, that European run resulted in tears and defeat as Salah was compelled off after simply 26 minutes with a dislocated shoulder following a controversial problem from Actual Madrid’s Sergio Ramos.
STUNNING STATS
In his seven seasons since, Salah has all the time scored greater than 20 objectives to turn out to be the third highest scorer in Liverpool’s historical past with 243 objectives from 394 appearances.
His 184 objectives within the Premier League is the joint-fifth highest and his subsequent strike will make him the competitors’s most prolific abroad participant.
Added to his eye for purpose, Salah additionally stands among the many all-time prime 10 for Premier League assists on 86.
The 32-year-old is on target for arguably one of the best particular person season in English top-flight historical past.
Alan Shearer and Andy Cole maintain the report for many objectives and assists in a single Premier League season of 47.
Salah is simply three shy of that with seven video games to go because of his 27 objectives and 17 assists in 31 appearances.
That return has sparked debate over the place he stands within the pantheon of Premier League greats.
Salah might turn out to be the primary man to win the Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation Participant of the 12 months award for a 3rd time this season and is on target to match Thierry Henry’s report for 4 Premier League Golden Boots.
Nonetheless, it’s collective glory he seeks to additional his legacy.
“If you win one thing with the workforce and are scoring objectives and you’re concerned, that’s what folks bear in mind,” stated Salah. “Simply particular person awards with out successful something does not really feel nice.”
A second Premier League title seems only a matter of time, so as to add to his Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, Membership World Cup and Uefa Tremendous Cup as a Liverpool participant.
INTERNATIONAL ANGUISH
Salah’s hero standing is magnified in his homeland, even when he’s but to steer Egypt to glory at a serious worldwide event.
Twice he has missed out within the last of the African Cup of Nations.
The Pharaohs misplaced 2-1 to Cameroon in 2017 and had their hearts damaged by Senegal in a penalty shootout in 2022.
In a conflict between two celebrity Liverpool teammates on the time, Sadio Mane struck the successful spot-kick, whereas Salah didn’t even get to take one after the choice to depart him till final backfired.
Salah’s impression on the World Cup has been much more restricted.
Regardless of dashing again onto the sector, he was a diminished drive on the 2018 World Cup simply weeks after Ramos’ problem left his arm in a sling.
4 years later, Egypt didn’t even make it to Qatar after Salah missed in one other penalty defeat to Senegal in qualifying.
He might have the chance to rectify his report at each tournaments within the not too distant future, with an Afcon in Morocco in December and January adopted by an expanded 2026 World Cup.
Salah may also have one other landmark in his sights as his tally of 58 worldwide objectives is simply 9 wanting Hossam Hassan’s nationwide report.
