‘We need another title’: Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah revels in his favourite season with win at Manchester City

MANCHESTER – Forward Mohamed Salah continued to make the case that this is his greatest season ever and his personal favourite, following Liverpool’s 2-0 English Premier League victory at Manchester City on Feb 23.

Salah scored the Reds’ first goal – his 25th in the league this campaign – and set up the second for midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai as they moved 11 points clear at the top, putting his name alongside a few records in the process.

The Egyptian has become the first player in EPL history to be involved in 40-plus goals in two different seasons, with 25 goals and 16 assists this term after 32 goals and 10 assists in 2017-18.

“I don’t know,” Salah said, when asked if he was playing at his best-ever level.

“It is opinion. Maybe people prefer my first seasons or now, but I prefer now because (closing on) winning the league, helping the young players, it is special. We need another title. Me and the big guys in the team, we need another title.”

Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson were all part of the Liverpool side who ended a 30-year wait to win the title in 2020.

Salah has only four months left on his contract, with no hint of an extension forthcoming from the club, but any potential distraction has not shown on the field.

His 241 goals in all competitions since joining Liverpool in 2017 have made him joint-third on their all-time list with Gordon Hodgson (1926-35). Ian Rush tops the scoring chart with 346, ahead of second-placed Roger Hunt (285).

He has now scored and assisted in 11 league matches this season, the most by a player in a single campaign in Europe’s big-five leagues since Lionel Messi’s 11 for Barcelona in 2014-15.

The 32-year-old’s 16 away league goals is a joint-record in the competition’s history, alongside Kevin Phillips (1999-2000) and Harry Kane (2022-23).

Salah is also a huge thorn in Pep Guardiola’s side.

He is the first EPL player to score and assist in both games against the reigning champions in a season. His nine goals and six assists against Guardiola’s teams are the most in the Spaniard’s top-flight managerial career.

Salah’s season is drawing praise from teammates and fans.

“The numbers speak for themselves. At the moment, not many things seem difficult for Mo,” Liverpool boss Arne Slot said.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, now a pundit, said on the Sky Sports broadcast that Salah is in a “golden moment in his career where everything just feels easy for him. Today that was another beautiful performance”.

Robertson cracked a joke when asked about his teammate.

“I can’t be bothered talking about (Salah) to be honest. No, he’s been unbelievable. Another goal and assist,” the Scot said with a laugh.

“His work rate going back the other way was unbelievable today. He is in a different world right now and playing out of his skin. We are very happy to have him, that’s for sure.”

Salah has starred as Liverpool have scored a league-leading 64 goals, yet are not the swashbuckling team who won the title in 2019-20 under charismatic German manager Jurgen Klopp.

Slot does not give the impression that he is overly concerned with style marks, preferring the relentlessly efficient accumulation of points.

The Dutchman’s side had only 34 per cent of possession at the Etihad. But that simply underlined Liverpool’s defensive discipline and showed that the rip-roaring 2-2 draw in a wide-open game at Aston Villa on Feb 19 was an exception.

“Three days ago, we had a draw at Villa and people told me we weren’t in a good place and then three days later we win and it changes again,” Slot told Sky Sports.

“Ideally, we have the ball more than the other team. But City, when it comes to ball possession, they like it a lot and are so comfortable on the ball.

“The only chance you have to win here is to defend very well. I don’t think they had too many big chances. It is easier for us to not get excited because we know what we have to put in. This result was more about defence than attack.” REUTERS, AFP