San Siro, the most fabled of Italy’s stadiums, has seen Mohamed Salah break local hearts more times than it cares to remember.
There was his strike for Fiorentina, the only goal of the game at Inter Milan in March 2015. Freshly signed on loan at the Tuscan club after a low-impact spell at Chelsea, he latched on to a clearance and, under pressure, picked his spot with power and precision. It was one of several Salah goals that helped propel Fiorentina into Serie A’s European places in his half-season there and a goal that distanced Inter from reaching them.
There was the Salah goal for Roma at the tail-end of the next campaign, 2015-16, against AC Milan who, until Salah set the path to a 3-1 Roma victory with what is now regarded as a trademark - a counter-attacking sprint-and-finish - had held out hope of a top six, European finish. Salah flattened Milan’s hopes.
A year later, at the age of 24, and having made a stunning impression at two Serie A clubs, Salah was negotiating his move to Liverpool, in whose colours he was back at San Siro on Tuesday night, again breaking hearts. At 1-0 up in the last fixture of what always looked the toughest, most prestigious of this season’s Champions League group, Milan had a toe in the knockout phase. Once Salah equalised, setting the base for a 2-1 Liverpool victory, Milan were heading out of Europe altogether.
The goal itself had an element of deja vu. Rather like his strike for Fiorentina against Inter, it spoke for his alertness, his poise, a left-footed effort after picking up on a rebound, Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan having parried Divock Origi’s shot.
San Siro. Madrid’s Metropolitano. Porto’s Dragao. Real Madrid away. Leipzig. Jutland. Bergamo. Wherever he goes in the Champions League, Salah scores. Among the milestones he passed on Wednesday night, while securing Liverpool’s standard-setting six wins out of six in the otherwise brutal Group B, was scoring for the seventh consecutive away game in the Champions League.
To his list of hostile venues tamed, you could also add this season’s domestic collection. In the last two months Salah has scored twice at Goodison Park, and netted a hat-trick at Old Trafford - the top two on Liverpool’s traditional list of least welcoming venues - in a sequence that, viewed through any lens, is exceptional.
Salah's 20 Liverpool goals so far
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1. Mohamed Salah's first goal of the season came in Liverpool's first game of the season, a 3-0 victory at newly promoted Norwich City on August 14. Reuters -
2. Salah's second goal came on August 28, in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Reuters -
3. No 3 of the season was at Leeds United, where Liverpool won 3-0. EPA -
4. Another for Salah in the Premier League in the 3-0 win against Crystal Palace on September 18. AFP -
5. A thrilling 3-3 draw at Brentford on September 25 saw Salah claim another goal. AFP -
6. A goal that will be talked about for years to come: Salah scores a wonderful strike in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City on October 3. EPA -
7. The international break did nothing to slow Salah's form, as he danced around Watford's bewildered defence to score in the 5-0 win at Vicarage Road. Reuters -
8. Salah scores the third against Manchester United in Liverpool's 5-0 Premier League triumph on October 24. Getty -
9. Salah was soon at it again, adding the fourth at Old Trafford. Getty -
10. A hat-trick for Salah, adding the fifth in Liverpool's 5-0 win at Manchester United. Getty -
11. After three games without a goal, Salah is back on the scoresheet in the 4-0 demolition of Arsenal in the Premier League on November 20. EPA -
12. Another to delight the Liverpool fans as Salah scores his side's second goal during the 4-1 Merseyside derby win at Everton on December 1. AP -
13. His next came in the same match at Goodison Park. EPA -
14. The only goal of the game in the 1-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa at Anfield on December 11. EPA -
15. Liverpool keep the momentum going with a 3-1 win over Newcastle at Anfield, with Salah netting the second, on December 16. Reuters -
16. Salah celebrates another goal in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea on January 2. AP -
17. Salah scores the second goal in the 3-1 win against Norwich on February 19. PA -
18. Mohamed Salah scores in the 6-0 win against Leeds on February 23. PA -
19. Salah after scoring his second goal of the game against Leeds. AP -
20. Another stunning season for Mohamed Salah as he notches Premier League goal No 20 in the 2-0 win at Brighton on March 12. PA
The 2020-21 showreel includes goal-of-the-season contenders; the sheer number make this an outstanding season even by the standards Salah has previously set. “The physicality and desire he showed speaks volumes for attitude and approach,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp of Salah’s performance in Milan, in a match the visiting side could have lost with no effect on their status as group winners.
Salah’s goal was number 20 since August. That’s from 21 matches, and in reaching the total he matched a 34-year-old club record. Not since Ian Rush, in 1987, have Liverpool had a striker who hit 20 goals for them in five consecutive seasons. Rush’s consistency would earn him a transfer to Juventus, although, unlike Salah with Fiorentina and Roma, he made little impression on Serie A.
Come next month, the pressing question for Salah and tens of millions of Egyptian compatriots will be, can the conqueror of Milan, Madrid, and Manchester replicate his form in Garoua, northern Cameroon? That’s where Egypt will begin their bid to capture the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations on January 11.
AC Milan v Liverpool player ratings
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AC MILAN RATINGS: Mike Maignan - 5: The Frenchman was generally secure but he blocked Mane’s shot back into the danger area instead of palming the ball over or wide. Origi made the most of the mistake. EPA -
Pierre Kalulu - 5: The 21-year-old found Mane a handful but made life hard for the striker. He was unable to create anything going forward and was replaced by Florenzi in the 65th minute. AP -
Fikayo Tomori - 4: The former Chelsea defender scored the opener but gifted Liverpool possession before their second goal. That moment showed his nervousness on the ball. EPA -
Alessio Romagnoli - 5: The captain was strong in the tackle and made a number of good blocks. He was more comfortable passing the ball out than his colleagues. AP -
Theo Hernandez - 4: The Frenchman tried to be bold going forward but did little to disrupt the Liverpool defence. He was too adventurous against the threat of Salah. EPA -
Sandro Tonali - 4: The 21-year-old found it hard to create any danger. He exerted no control over Liverpool’s weakened midfield and was substituted in the 59th minute for Saelemaekers. EPA -
Franck Kessie - 3: The Ivorian was shrugged off too easily by Oxlade-Chamberlain in the run up to Liverpool’s equaliser. He had a late chance to level the scores but was foiled by Alisson. EPA -
Junior Messias - 4: The Brazilian disappeared for long periods. He created a chance for Krunic but otherwise made little impression. PA -
Brahim Diaz - 3: The Spaniard was anonymous. No one was shocked when he was replaced by Bennacer with 31 minutes left. AP -
Rade Krunic - 3: The Bosnian gave the defenders an easy night. He shot over the bar just after the hour but never came close to scoring. AP -
Zlatan Ibrahimovic - 2: The 40-year-old was isolated and had little service but a man with his reputation should have done more. A very poor effort. AP -
SUBS: Ismael Bennacer - 5: The 24-year-old replaced Diaz in the 59th minute. He was more composed on the ball than most of his team-mates. AFP -
Alexis Saelemaekers - 3: The Belgian came on for Tonali in the 59th minute. He did next to nothing to unnerve the defence. AP -
Alessandro Florenzi - 4: The 30-year-old was introduced with 25 minutes left for Kalulu, presumably to give more forward thrust. It didn’t work. PA -
Tiemoue Bakayoko - 4: The Chelsea loanee was given seven minutes to make an impact when Krunic departed. He was immediately dispossessed by Oxlade-Chamberlain and things got no better. Reuters -
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7: The Brazilian was surprised that the corner was let through for Milan’s goal but he made an excellent save from Kessie late on to maintain the victory. PA -
Neco Williams - 7: The 20-year-old was comfortable on the ball and secure when defending. He might have expected a more difficult night. PA -
Nathaniel Phillips - 7: The 24-year-old made his first start of the season and was in control throughout. He even made a shimmying dribble out of his own area. EPA -
Ibrahima Konate - 8: The Frenchman was imperious. This was his best game for Liverpool and he kept a tight rein on Ibrahimovic. EPA -
Kostas Tsimikas - 7: Milan tried to take advantage of the Greek but after a difficult start he came out on top. A gritty performance. PA -
Tyler Morton - 7: The 19-year-old was unfazed by the San Siro. He got better as the game went on and caused problems for the home side. EPA -
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 8: The 28-year-old bulldozed past Kessie to generate Salah’s goal and controlled the midfield. He should have scored late on. PA -
Takumi Minamino - 6: The Japanese made a lame effort to block the corner that led to Milan’s opening goal but never stopped running. He presses hard but is often late to the ballcarrier. Getty -
Mohamed Salah - 7: The Egyptian cruised through 64 minutes of action as if it was a friendly. When he got a sniff of goal he showed great technique to put the ball into the net. He was replaced by Keita with 26 minutes to go. Getty -
Divock Origi - 7: The Belgian scored the winning goal, led the line effectively and showed off his quick footwork in the opposition box. He once again proved to be a useful option for the team. He made way for Fabinho after 80 minutes. PA -
Sadio Mane - 7: The Senegalese buzzed around and made a nuisance of himself. He showed great speed of thought and leg to steal the ball from Tomori and his parried shot allowed Origi to score. Withdrawn after 65 minutes for Gomez. PA -
SUBS: Naby Keita - 7: The midfielder replaced Salah after 64 minutes. He set up a great chance for Oxlade-Chamberlain and made the most of his time on the pitch. AP -
Joe Gomez - 7: The 24-year-old came on for Mane with 25 minutes to go and slotted in at right back. It helped ease him back towards match fitness. EPA -
Fabinho – 6: The Brazilian joined the action with 10 minutes to go for Origi. He helped see the team across the line. Max Woltman - 5: The 18-year-old was given a brief runout at Minamino’s expense in stoppage time. He will always remember his debut. Conor Bradley - 5: The 18-year-old was given another taste of the action in stoppage time when Williams left the game. He got a touch of the ball in his handful of seconds on the pitch. EPA
They can expect it to feel hostile. Garoua is the closest of the venues for the Afcon finals to neighbouring Nigeria. Egypt’s first group game is against Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who will start the tournament among the favourites.
Klopp hopes the Egyptian FA will allow Salah - and Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Guinea’s Naby Keita - to join up a little later than the Fifa-prescribed 13 days before a country’s first fixture. The argument that Salah’s continuing his golden streak of club form would benefit his national team may have some sway, but Klopp’s main concern is that he can have his full attacking artillery available for the Premier League matches at Leicester City on December 28 and perhaps even at Chelsea on January 2.
A successful Afcon for Egypt would keep Salah away for over a month, with the final scheduled for February 6. That means, potentially, missing four or five of Liverpool’s league matches, two possible rounds of the FA Cup and a League Cup semi-final if the club reach it. Or, at Salah’s current rate of scoring, perhaps 10 fewer goals in his season’s total for Liverpool.
He’d sacrifice those were Liverpool to thrive in his absence and Egypt to lift the Nations Cup. It would give their superstar a first major international title - a prize that would be noted when it comes to the voting for the next Ballon D’Or, for which Salah is already shaping up as a leading candidate.
