Salah’s Magical Dink Lifted Liverpool To European Elite

Article by Jake Clay @JakeClay17 Goal celebrations have a separate focus which becomes symbolic for individuals’ players such as Alan Shearer sticking his hand in the air or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang showing off his acrobatic front flip. At the same time, planned celebrations reflect the so-called ‘banter’ in the dressing room whether it was Jimmy Bullard mimicking Phil Brown’s on-field rant or Dele Ali’s specific handshakes with each of his Tottenham teammates. The most memorable celebrations are the ones that send a bigger message about the club such as players remembering recently deceased football figures connected to the team’s name with a tribute written on their undershirt. Mo Salah has been one who’s had fun when scoring goals whether it’s been ripping his shirt off away at Southampton or standing in front of the Kop doing his yoga pose after his screamer against Chelsea. But one defining moment from the ex-Chelsea man was his reaction following his equaliser against a helpless Man City defence who could only look on at the Egyptian as he stood there his arms stretched out admiring an away end in rapture. It was a moment of exhilaration as Liverpool got what they were looking for at the Etihad, that crucial away goal. A week after accumulating a 3-0 lead at Anfield, Liverpool travelled down the M62 knowing getting one on the scoresheet ended the tie.

As it’s been two years since THAT game v Man City it would be rude not to share Tom and Si’s reaction.

Enjoy. pic.twitter.com/cDiIcuZvaO

— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) April 10, 2020

Simple right. Not quite. A rare Virgil Van Dijk mistake (feels dirty saying that) gave City a lifeline as the Dutchman was shoved off the pitch by former Liverpool teenage sensation Raheem Sterling which lead to Gabriel Jesus netting within the first two minutes which brought on an onslaught from Pep Guardiola’s side for the first 55 minutes of the game. But it only takes one lapse of concentration, even the most minimal, for Liverpool to smell blood and strike at City with the man most likely to deliver when it matters. The Etihad was silent. Except for one corner, which was full of people in reds jumping on top of each while all looking in the same direction, as was the rest of the football world, to the man who possessed greatness in his veins and demonstrated it on the biggest of stages.

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The stone-cold look in Salah’s face reflected the significance of what his goal meant and his arms out as wide as the Mersey represented something else. It illustrated simply:  this is what I am, even more, this is what this team is. There was a sense of time standing still as soon as the ball hit the back of the net as it felt like it was just Salah, a few thousand Kopites and the sound of every other person devoted to Liverpool screaming with joy. The unity within this squad was evident whether it was Alex-Oxlade Chamberlin screaming in Salah’s face, Trent grabbing him around the neck whilst giving the biggest fist bump to his fellow Liverpudlians in the crowd or Loris Karius sprinting the length of the pitch to join in the celebrations. They were stood up to be counted and their main man provided their reward which raised eyebrows all around the country who saw the imperious side in the league fall at the hands of their Kryptonite. More importantly it alerted sides all around Europe that Liverpool were back where they belong, at the prestige of European football. Even if 2017/2018 won’t be remembered for Kiev; the journey was just as fun with moments that Liverpool fans still treasure to this day. He may have the nickname now but one composed finish away at Man City in front of the Kop end confirmed Salah’s status as the Egyptian King. Article by Jake Clay – @JakeClay17