Salah hits milestone as Liverpool secure Champions League last-16 spot
Mohamed Salah delivered yet another stellar performance, scoring to secure Liverpool’s victory over Lille and confirm their place in the Champions League last 16.
The Egyptian forward has now netted three goals in this season’s Champions League, bringing his tally to 22 goals in 31 appearances across all competitions. With an additional 17 assists, Salah’s 39 goal involvements are unmatched by any player in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Salah’s latest goal, a cool chip over Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier after receiving Curtis Jones’ sublime through ball, marked his 50th European goal for Liverpool. This includes 44 in the Champions League, five in the Europa League, and one in Champions League qualifying.
The strike extended Salah’s record as Liverpool’s all-time leading European scorer, with 20 of those goals coming at Anfield. He joins an elite group of players who have scored 20+ Champions League goals at a single venue for an English club, alongside Sergio Aguero (23 at the Etihad Stadium) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (23 at Old Trafford).
“There has always been a smile on Salah’s face but it’s just that belief in himself that he will score,” said former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“That’s what makes him so dangerous. That’s the elite mindset of a player of his calibre.”
He has also been directly involved in 18 goals in 15 appearances at Anfield this season (10 goals, eight assists in all competitions).
“He is a real talisman for Liverpool,” said former Reds striker Robbie Fowler on Amazon Prime.
“He is a game winner. He is very comfortable in front of goal.
“He is one of those players that if he misses a chance, he is not fazed because the next one he will score.
“We wax lyrical about Mohamed Salah and know what he is capable of.”
Speaking to Amazon Prime, Salah said: “Hopefully [it’s] not the last one but I’m very proud of it. I wasn’t focused on it before the game.”
The 32-year-old’s long-term future at Anfield has been a constant talking point, as he has yet to sign an extension to his contract that expires at the end of this season.
At the end of December, Salah said an agreement was “far away” but former Liverpool forward Luis Garcia said the “situation is not affecting him”.
“He has never said he wants to leave,” said Garcia on Amazon Prime.
“The club never said he wants to leave. I think they are trying to give him normality. Week in, week out he is delivering, he is scoring. So this situation is not affecting him.”