Mohamed Salah has secured his place as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats after extending his contract at Liverpool for another two years on Friday. Let’s take a look at the Egyptian’s journey from Chelsea disappointment to Anfield legend:
Chelsea’s Disappointment to ‘Egyptian King’
When Salah joined Liverpool from Roma in 2017 for £34 million ($44 million), his signing wasn’t universally praised. He had failed to make an impact at Chelsea, where he was discarded after just 19 appearances for the Blues.
Though he rebuilt his reputation in Italy, initially on loan at Fiorentina before moving permanently to Roma, his brilliance was often overshadowed by inconsistent finishing.
Salah’s first season at Liverpool shattered any lingering doubts as he netted 44 goals. He was soon dubbed the “Egyptian King” by Liverpool fans and propelled the club to its first Champions League final in 11 years. However, the European campaign ended in disappointment as Salah was forced off in the first half with a dislocated shoulder after a controversial challenge by Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos.
Remarkable Stats
In the seven seasons that followed, Salah consistently scored over 20 goals, making him the third-highest scorer in Liverpool’s history with 243 goals in 394 appearances. His tally of 184 Premier League goals places him joint-fifth on the all-time list, and his next goal will make him the league’s most prolific foreign player.
In addition to his goal-scoring feats, Salah ranks among the top 10 for Premier League assists with 86 to his name. The 32-year-old is on track to deliver one of the finest individual seasons in Premier League history.
Alan Shearer and Andy Cole hold the record for most goals and assists in a single Premier League season, with 47 combined. Salah is just three away from this total, having scored 27 goals and provided 17 assists in 31 appearances.
His impressive form has led to discussions about his place among Premier League greats. Salah could make history by winning the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award for the third time this season and is in contention to match Thierry Henry’s record of four Premier League Golden Boots.
However, it is team success that Salah values most to solidify his legacy. “When you win something with the team and are scoring goals and you are involved, that’s what people remember,” Salah explained. “Just individual awards without winning anything doesn’t feel great.”
A second Premier League title seems inevitable for him, to add to his Champions League, FA Cup, two League Cups, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup trophies with Liverpool.
International Heartbreak for Salah
Salah’s hero status is even more prominent in Egypt, though he has yet to secure a major international title with his national team. He has missed out on the African Cup of Nations final twice, with Egypt losing 2-1 to Cameroon in 2017 and suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Senegal in 2022.
In a dramatic encounter between two Liverpool stars, Sadio Mané scored the decisive penalty, while Salah, who was kept until the end, did not get the chance to take one.
Salah’s World Cup journey has been similarly underwhelming. Despite his heroic return from injury, he was a shadow of his usual self at the 2018 World Cup, just weeks after his dislocated shoulder. In 2022, Egypt failed to qualify for the tournament, with Salah missing a penalty in the decisive shootout against Senegal.
Salah could have the chance to redeem himself at both tournaments in the near future, with the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later this year, followed by the expanded 2026 World Cup. He will also aim to break the record for Egypt’s all-time top scorer, as his 58 goals are just nine short of Hossam Hassan’s national record.
