The biggest difference between Liverpool and Chelsea in the top clash at Anfield was the moment of brilliance from Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian player only needed a perfectly timed cross to bypass Chelsea’s entire defense. The ball seemed to have eyes, finding Curtis Jones on the run. The young Liverpool midfielder had a simple task to finish.
That goal came just three minutes after Nicolas Jackson equalized for Chelsea. While Chelsea’s players were riding high on their momentum, they were quickly doused with cold water by the second goal. Salah punished the Chelsea defense’s lack of concentration with a masterful assist.
That is the value of the Egyptian player. In a fiercely competitive match, both Liverpool and Chelsea lacked the sharp moments needed to make a difference. Arne Slot’s team faced considerable difficulty against their first major opponent of the season (Chelsea was the first team in the Top 9 that Liverpool faced in the Premier League this season).
Even Salah did not have an easy game. The Egyptian forward was tightly marked by the Chelsea defense, with an accuracy rate of only 56% for his passes (15/27). The 32-year-old also won just 5 of 9 duels and successfully dribbled past opponents 3 out of 4 times. His age posed a challenge against Chelsea’s youthful and energetic lineup.
However, Salah’s class shone through in the decisive moments of the match. This included a confident penalty that provided a psychological advantage for Liverpool and, more notably, the assist for Curtis Jones to score and make it 2-1. Salah’s experience helped Liverpool navigate a challenging match.
To prepare for the clash with Chelsea, Salah had to request an early departure from the Egypt national team and did not participate in the match against Mauritania due to injury risks on the artificial pitch. The Liverpool forward wanted to give his best for what could be his final season at Anfield.
With a convincing performance against Chelsea, Salah recorded his 34th match in the Premier League where he scored and assisted in the same game. The record for most such matches in league history currently belongs to Wayne Rooney with 36. It would not be surprising if Salah broke Rooney’s record this season. The Liverpool forward also reached 162 goals in the Premier League, matching Jermaine Defoe’s tally and standing ninth on the all-time goalscorers list.
“Salah is very important to us; just look at his amazing statistics. But after the match, I told Alexander-Arnold that he has a competitor for the right-back position because Salah can also play there. His defensive efforts please me just as much as his goals and assists,” praised coach Arne Slot regarding the Egyptian star.
The Dutch coach’s reign is off to an impressive start with 10 wins in 11 matches. In the Premier League, Liverpool also sits at the top of the table with 21 points after 8 matches, with Salah contributing to 67% of Liverpool’s goals in the league with 5 goals and 5 assists.
More importantly, Salah’s star moments will make a difference for Liverpool in crucial matches.