Liverpool away end message clear as Salah reaches ridiculous new landmark

Liverpool away end message clear as Mohamed Salah reaches ridiculous new landmark

Ian Doyle assesses the continued record-breaking impact of Mohamed Salah after his two goals in Liverpool's Premier League win at Bournemouth on Saturday

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If Mohamed Salah really is playing out the final months of his Liverpool career, the forward is at least ensuring each outing seems a landmark one. And in helping the Reds make a significant statement in the Premier League title race, here the Egyptian joined an elite group of marksmen.

By thrashing home his penalty on the half-hour mark at Bournemouth, Salah notched his 20th Premier League goal of the season to become only the fifth player in the competition’s history to reach the milestone in five separate campaigns, following in the footsteps of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero and Harry Kane.

Salah, of course, has long rubbed shoulders with such luminaries given his relentless exploits during a stay at Liverpool that, as things stand, will not go into a ninth year after his present deal expires in the summer.

Reds supporters will hope it doesn’t come to that, with the forward still hopeful an agreement can be thrashed out with club representatives including sporting director Richard Hughes, who was watching on from the directors’ box at his former club.

Salah had missed his last two penalties against Bournemouth when coming up against Neto, a former adversary in Serie A. This time, though, it was Kepa Arrizabalaga in opposition. And while the award was contentious – VAR chose to uphold the view of referee Darren England that Cody Gakpo’s heels had been clipped by Bournemouth defender Lewis Cook – the finish was emphatic, Salah sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

And there was no doubt about his second 15 minutes from time, making space to curl a shot around Milos Kerkez and Kepa into the far corner. It was a goal the moment it left his boot, moving him further ahead of Frank Lampard into sixth place in the Premier League all-time scorers list. Salah now has 25 for the season in all competitions, with 21 coming in 23 league games.

Just minutes earlier, Bournemouth’s leading scorer Justin Kluivert had spooned a gilt-edged opportunity off target after a shot from substitute Marcus Tavernier struck the inside of the post and bounced at his feet with Alisson Becker out of position.

It underlined the fine margins that often separate such encounters, Liverpool unlikely to earn a more hard-earned victory this season having shown their willingness to dig in against the in-form Cherries.

The away end were already chanting about winning the league when Salah was afforded a standing ovation on his late substitution.

Nine points clear and with Arsenal entertaining resurgent champions Manchester City on Sunday, this could prove a pivotal weekend in the Premier League title race. And, as he has done throughout his Liverpool reign, the Egyptian King stepped up when it mattered. Now, about that contract...

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