Liverpool’s purchase of Mohamed Salah is the best business transaction in world football this season by a mile.
Salah arrived from Roma in the summer in a $AUD62 million move, leaving many scratching their heads as to why Liverpool had parted with such an amount of money for a player who failed to perform at Chelsea.
However, with his goal in Wednesday morning’s Champions League clash against Porto, Salah continued to silence those doubters, reaching 30 goals for the season across all competitions.
And it’s only February. February.
To put his stellar season into perspective, in 2017-18 he has scored more times than Neymar (27) who cost PSG $AUD348.8 million – more than five times as much as Salah.
He also has more goals than each of Cristiano Ronaldo (22), Lionel Messi (26), and former Liverpudlian Luis Suarez (19).
The real kicker to this is that he isn’t even a forward – he’s a midfielder. It’s unprecedented that he should be scoring this many goals, which make his numbers below even more incredulous – especially when stacked up against focal-point Spurs striker Harry Kane.
For the English Premier League season alone, Salah is:
He has also scored more goals than Swansea or West Brom have managed in total.
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In his debut season at Anfield, Salah has become the fastest ever Liverpool player to score 20 EPL goals (25 matches), eclipsing icons such as Fernando Torres, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. He’s also the fastest to 20 goals for the Reds in their 113 years of top-flight history.
He’s only the fourth Liverpool player in EPL history to score at least 20 EPL goals in a season, and only their second to score 20 goals in his debut season – Torres was the other, and he finished with 33 across all competitions, hwile Salah already has 30.
Finally, the Egyptian has the best goals-per-minute ratio in the Premier League for any Liverpool player who has scored five or more goals. His record of a goal every 92.5 minutes is well ahead of Torres, in second, who scored every 121 minutes.
Liverpool get a fair bit of transfer business wrong (who would pay $AUD120 million for Virgil van Dijk?!) but they deserve full credit for this brilliant bit of business.
While other teams are still waiting to reap the rewards of their transfers, the Merseyside club are soaring in the Champions League and flying high in the Premier League thanks to the exciting Egyptian.
We can only wonder what records this wizard will have broken come the end of the season.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
Now you know how Southampton feel. Everyone's looking for something bigger and better and Liverpool haven't been elite for quite some time
chris
Guest
Dan totally agree. If you want to win the league you need excellent central defenders. (Ok Man City is the exception! lol) And I knew Mo would be a hit as I used to watch him play for Roma. He was virtually untouchable at times so no huge surprises hes a hit at Liverpool. Can't wait to see him at the WC.
Dan Wighton
Roar Guru
Van Dijk was damn expensive but his influence has already been huge. Liverpool's defence looks far better since he arrived, and he's made the rest of the side play better - his partnership with Karius has been the main reason for the German grabbing the goalkeeping slot with both hands, which saves them money in the summer as they don't need to find a new keeper now.
Mitch
Guest
I love liverpool and Mo Salah but i couldn't handle seeing him leave. Every time we get a star they just get bought buy the rich and famous. Its almost like LFC are just a train stop along the way for players. Broke my heart seeing Coutinho leave and how can we ever become something great as a team if we never hang on to the players that will get you there.
Mark
Guest
I think it’s more likely Mo Salah will be at Madrid next season than Isco will be at Liverpool. The only way I could see Isco going to Liverpool is if Salah moves the other way. I suspect Isco would be a poor fit in the Premier League anyway
Mitch
Guest
Cant wait till next season with Naby Kieta comming in the midfield and possibly Isco as well that team would challenge anyone.
Kangajets
Guest
Mo Salah is terrific No mention of Ian Rush goal scoring record for Liverpool. Football did not begin with the premier league.
That A-League Fan
Roar Guru
Good luck to the Egyptian and the Reds! Salah is a fantastic player, and this article explains why. Totally agree on Van Dijk as well.