SOUTHAMPTON, England (REUTERS) - When Liverpool cleared a corner and the ball arrived at Mohamed Salah's feet 20 yards inside his own half at Southampton on Friday (April 5) there was just one thing on the Egyptian's mind.
A handful of seconds later, after a searing 50-metre run, his left-foot shot flew past Angus Gunn to give Liverpool the lead on a nailbiting night on the south coast.
Jordan Henderson scored another one to make it 3-1 and confirm Liverpool's place back on top of the Premier League, but the defining moment was Salah's drought-busting effort.
He had not scored for eight matches, his worst run at Liverpool, but his 80th-minute intervention could not have been better-timed. It was his 50th Premier League goal for Liverpool and, more importantly, proved that any concern over his form in the title run-in could be put to bed.
With five league games left Salah is undeniably back.
"What a goal! Wow, what a goal!" Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who hugged his striker on the pitch as Liverpool's fans roared out their song about the "Egyptian King".
Salah is the eighth Liverpool player to score 50 Premier League goals, but his half century arrived in only 69 games, three fewer than Fernando Torres, the previous quickest to the mark.
Â
Only two other players in the Premier League era have reached the landmark quicker - Manchester United's Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alan Shearer for Blackburn Rovers.
Klopp told reporters he had never doubted Salah would rediscover his scoring touch.
"It was never in doubt about him being a great player from my side," Klopp said. "It was goal number 50 I heard for Liverpool, that's an incredible number," the German said.
"As a striker, you have chances and each striker is a human being - maybe you have better moments and less good moments. But he is pretty consistent, his physical things are always there. He always stayed calm to deal with the situation."
Liverpool were not at their best, especially in a sluggish first half when they gave the ball away cheaply too often and Southampton threatened to add to their ninth-minute opener scored by Shane Long.
But once Naby Keita levelled with a deflected header in the 36th minute, his first goal for Liverpool, the visitors were relentless in their pursuit of a crucial win.
Klopp's side have now won seven of their last eight Premier League games when conceding the opening goal - a resilience that will be causing concern at relentless Manchester City who now trail by two points having played a game less.
"The season is intense for everyone," Klopp said.
"The performance was not top level but it is about fighting.
"People want us to play like Manchester City, we are unable to do that, we play our own football. We have 82 points now, that is massive in this crazy league and everyone is waiting for us. I am really proud. It is incredible.
"It is a difficult year for everybody, you need to have 70-75 points for the (top-four) Champions League and 90-something for the title.
"We are in the race and that is nice."
Back in the 2015-16 season, when Spurs were pushing for the Premier League title, it was Antonio who derailed them with the only goal of a 1-0 West Ham win at Upton Park. Yesterday, the forward struck the first goal by a visiting player to Spurs' new stadium and it was one that stood to damage their hopes of a top-four finish.
Messina will lead Spurs again while Popovich continues to
Football: World Cup winner Buffon to leave Paris Saint
Football: Derby shocker with Villa's Grealish attacked by Birmingham fan but he gets last laugh with winner
Football: Birmingham fan jailed for pitch attack on Villa's
Newcastle United beat Blackburn Rovers 4-2 after extra time while Championship side StokeCity threw away a two-goal lead as they suffered a shock 3-2 home defeat by third-tier ShrewsburyTown in FA
FA Cup: Newcastle get extra-time win, Stoke fall to
May 05, 2019 · Chelsea respond to half-time boos with win over Watford to secure Champions League place 127-second burst early in the second-half to move above Tottenham Hotspur. home Chelsea's third
Chelsea 3-0 Watford: Blues leap up to third with convincing
Football: Cardiff 'shocked' by Sala pilot report, Football
Ronaldo could face ex-team United in ICC S'pore. Published. 2 hours ago. This year's ICC in Singapore is set to take place at the National Stadium over the July 19-21 weekend and will feature
Football: Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could face
NEWCASTLE, England (REUTERS) - Manchester City's hopes of retaining their Premier League title suffered a potentially grievous blow as struggling Newcastle United earned a remarkable 2-1 comeback
Man City title hopes hit by shock defeat at Newcastle - Reuters
Football: Valencia clinch Champions League spot, Getafe in Europa League MADRID (REUTERS) - Valencia secured Champions League football for the second year in a row by winning 2-0 at Real Valladolid on Saturday, clinching fourth place in La Liga at the expense of Getafe who drew 2-2 at home to Villarreal.
Valencia Clinch Champions League Spot, Getafe In Europa
Arsenal beaten in Belarus. Arsenal face an uphill battle to progress after a 1-0 defeat by BATE in a game which saw Alexandre Lacazette sent off for elbowing Aleksandar Filipovic with five minutes
Alexandre Lacazette sent off as sloppy Arsenal see Bate
Football: Four Albirex Niigata players to watch in the 2019 Singapore Premier League. Albirex Niigata could sign up to four Singaporean players in a boost for 2019 SEA Games. Dec 12, 2018, 12
2019 Singapore Premier League - Wikipedia
Man City beat Liverpool 2-1, cut lead to four points Sadio Mane hit post for Liverpool in the 18th minute Sergio Aguero put City ahead with fierce strike from tight angle Roberto Firmino headed Liverpool level in 64th City restored lead eight minutes later through Leroy Sane Both keepers busy in latter stages of fierce contest City host Wolves next, Liverpool […]
Man City end Liverpool's unbeaten run, cut lead to four
Football: 10-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Man City clash BERLIN (AFP) - Schalke 04 warmed-up for the Champions League visit of Manchester City with a goalless draw at home to fellow Bundesliga strugglers Freiburg on Saturday (Feb 16).
Ten-man Schalke draw blank ahead of Man City clash
0 comments:
Post a Comment