Mohamed Salah unrecognisable as Champions League truth clear about Liverpool future
Mohamed Salah is inevitable. No matter how he is playing, whether he is having the game of his life or nothing is quite landing for him, you can always rely on him for a goal.
Having floundered against Wolves before netting the winner from the penalty spot last weekend, Wednesday’s win over Bologna threatened to be going the same way - despite crossing for Alexis Mac Allister’s opener.
On more than one occasion after the Argentine’s close-range strike, the Egyptian’s final ball was lacking as good chance after good chance went begging and Bologna threatened to make Liverpool pay.
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But then in the 75th minute, he clinched victory with a stunning goal in front of the Kop, cutting inside from the right before powering into the top corner from the edge of the box. A stunning strike from a stunning player.
By scoring, Salah become the first Reds player to ever to score in five consecutive European Cup matches at home. He also climbed further up the Champions League ‘proper’ scoring charts, breaking free of Didier Drogba with his 45th goal in the competition, seeing him move up to become the highest-scoring African in its history.
Having netted five goals in his three previous career appearances against the Serie A outfit, Bologna cannot say they weren’t warned. Though the Salah they found themselves facing now is unrecognisable from the player Liverpool first contemplated signing from AS Roma seven years ago.
The Reds’ leading scorer so far this season with six goals, Salah remains the team's most reliable goalscorer - despite Luis Diaz’s eye-catching start to the campaign.
Yet Salah's future remains uncertain with his contract set to expire next summer. Still starring on this highest stage, his goal and assist saw him named man of the match by UEFA.
He won’t want to walk away from the Champions League just yet. But whether Salah walks away from Liverpool at the end of the season remains to be seen.