Mohamed Salah kicked off the scoring for Liverpool on Wednesday, leaving Arsenal stunned with a remarkable solo run in Philadelphia.
Harvey Elliott delivered a perfectly timed pass to Salah down the right wing. The Egyptian player left Oleksandr Zinchenko behind while fending off both Gabriel and Jakub Kiwior.
Salah then slipped his shot under Arsenal's goalkeeper Karl Hein, showcasing to the sold-out U.S. crowd why he's regarded as one of the top players in global soccer.
Inside Lincoln Financial Field, home to NFL team Philadelphia Eagles, and watched by the largest ever soccer crowd at the stadium, Liverpool was clearly the favored team with Arsenal fans being outnumbered. However, US-based Reds might have had some concerns before the game as Salah missed the target repeatedly during warm-ups.
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The 32-year-old was unusually off-target during shooting drills, sending most of his attempts over the bar or wide of the goal. Salah looked skyward in frustration, but when it mattered most, he came through as usual.
This encapsulates Salah's career at Liverpool, as he consistently makes an impact on games even when not performing at his best. His swift run was classic Salah, and new head coach Arne Slot will be hoping that the winger maintains his world-class form next season.
Salah, one of the most prolific scorers in Liverpool's history, currently ranks fifth on the club's all-time leaderboard with 211 goals. Since joining the team in 2017 from Roma for an initial £36.5 million, the Egyptian player has revolutionized the club.
The success of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp can be largely attributed to Salah's influence, as he blossomed into the player Chelsea had envisioned when they signed him in 2014. After a successful stint at Basel, former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho acquired Salah for £11 million, but he quickly became redundant.
A standout season on loan at Roma led to his permanent signing by the Italian club in 2016. After just one season, they tripled their investment when Liverpool showed interest.
Despite the hefty price tag, it is considered one of the best deals in Liverpool's history given the subsequent success.
Salah proved that he will continue to be a vital asset for Liverpool next season. However, Slot faces an early challenge as Salah enters the final year of his contract.
When he inked a three-year deal in July 2022, Salah became the highest-paid player in the club's history, earning approximately £350,000 per week.
However, if Liverpool fails to reach an agreement with Salah to extend his stay in Merseyside, he will be free to leave next summer. Salah, who was worth hundreds of millions at his peak, would represent a significant loss for Liverpool if they didn't receive any money for their club legend, but it's unlikely they will consider selling him this summer.
For Liverpool and Salah, it's a case of all or nothing moving forward.
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