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Mighty Mo Salah scores “genius” goal as Liverpool v Man City clash takes football to new heights

LIVERPOOL: It could be argued that when Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018, the Spanish giant’s El Clasico bout with Barcelona lost its most important playing position in club football.

The spectacle of the Portuguese facing the legend Lionel Messi has elevated La Liga clashes to often unsurpassed levels.

Now, for games with the best players, a high level of expectation and pure drama, there is nothing better than Liverpool versus Manchester City.

Perhaps it is not a traditional rivalry for decades or generated by the same neighborhood, such as matches against Everton or Manchester United.

But in terms of challenging for trophies and showing the best talent, this is the best there is in the world right now.

The match ended 2-2 on Sunday, and it was a mixture of such breathtaking brilliance and tension that no one wanted it to end.

As City manager Pep Guardiola later said: “This is why Manchester City and Liverpool have always been there in recent years (fighting for the Premier League) because we try to play that way.”

A first half full of errors and excellence in equal measure sees the City dominate, but fails to get the important turning point.

Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp felt his side “couldn’t play football” as they were repeatedly knocked out and pushed back with James Milner’s right side being targeted.

Mohamed Salah has had 21 touches, but Liverpool have only had one shot, the minimum in an opening period since January 2017 against Chelsea.

Kop were subdued when City took the lead, only to lose control in the 59th minute when Salah sent Sadio Mane free to pass Ederson.

City’s response has the mark of the champions as, 20 minutes later, Gabriel Jesus chose Phil Foden, who threw a low shot for a corner.

Then followed a moment of genius from Salah – and not for the first time.

On a day when Liverpool paid tribute to Roger Hunt, the club’s second-highest goalscorer after Ian Rush, following his death last week, Anfield also rose to cheer their current idol after a jaw-dropping 76th-minute goal.

Tricking Joao Cancelo on the edge of the box, Salah effortlessly rolls the ball to evade the impressive Bernardo Silva, rounds and turns Aymeric Laporte before firing behind Ederson.

He was goal number 101 for the Egyptian king, and at the end of the season he could surpass Robbie Fowler’s 128 count, which would leave only Hunt and Rush ahead of him.

Another Liverpool icon, John Barnes, hugged Salah after the match on the flank, no doubt to praise him for a goal that would be alongside the best Barnes had scored in his pomp.

Salah has now scored in his last seven appearances for the Reds in all competitions, equaling his longest streak, last scored in April 2018. The Reds hero was humble in his assessment, saying: “It would be more special if we won the game. But it is what it is.”

Klopp praised Salah, adding: “Only the best players in the world score goals like this.”

He said: “If Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo score that goal, the world says yes because it is world class. He (Salah) is one of the best players in the world, that’s how he is. It’s not the first goal he scores like that, I think against Napoli and Tottenham they were similar goals, but it’s pure world class, what a player. Absolutely outstanding.

“This club never forgets anything and people will talk about this goal for a long time, even 50 or 60 years from now when they will still remember this match,” said Klopp.

But City showed great character to return again, on ground where they have only won once since 2003, and in a week when they had beaten Chelsea and lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

With nine minutes left, Kevin De Bruyne’s shot was deflected by Joel Matip and Rodri’s heroic block blocked Fabinho from four meters.

City are now one point behind second-placed Liverpool and two points behind leaders Chelsea.

De Bruyne said: “I didn’t play here last year when we won, but I think the way we’ve played here with all their supporters, in the six or seven years I’ve been here, has been by far. the best. This is a good sign for me. Cannot fault the performance. We did everything we had to do. Coming here is a tough test and I think we did really well, for the way we played, we should be happy. “

More twists and turns will follow in this season’s title race, but it will take something very special to get through such a pulsating contest like this between two of football’s heavyweights.