When the full-time whistle sounded in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Southampton on 8 March, Mohamed Salah may already have been wondering which Premier League record he would set next time out against Everton.
The stats and achievements have tumbled this season for the Egyptian, who has moved up to third in the Reds’ list of all-time scorers, has scored the most away goals for Liverpool in a Premier League season and has registered a goal and assist in 11 league matches this term, a new league record. He has also moved up to fifth in the list of all-time Premier League scorers.
But after that Southampton win, just over two months ago, Salah will have surely had his sights on three achievable – yet highly commended – set of landmarks. Liverpool’s no.11 was on 27 goals at that stage and had registered 17 assists.
He had nine games remaining to potentially catch Erling Haaland’s all-time scoring record of 36 – a tough ask, but possible, if he were to net nine in as many games. There also was the assist record held jointly by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, with Salah three off their tallies of 20.
The most achievable, surely, was the goal involvement record. The former Roma man required just four from nine matches to overtake the 47 set by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole. Yet, incredibly, with just two matches remaining, Salah hasn’t matched any of those previously attainable records. In the seven matches since his Southampton brace, Salah has managed just a single goal and assist.
It’s an unimaginable downgrade, with the 32-year-old averaging a goal involvement of 0.28 per game over the last two months, compared to over 1.5 from his first 29 games of the Premier League campaign. The list of players to better his number since March includes Fabian Schar, Bilal El Khannouss and Mats Wieffer.
(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It means Haaland’s goal record is gone – probably forever for Salah – and matching the assists tally would be a stiff task at this stage. Only the goal involvements record still looks feasible, something Salah will achieve if he manages two in his final two matches.
Although given the rate he’s currently operating at, that seems unlikely. It is worth noting that Salah’s two contributions – an assist against West Ham United and a goal in the title-clinching win over Tottenham Hotspur – have seen him set the record for a 38-game season. Shearer and Cole’s numbers were set over 42 matches.
That won’t matter to Salah. He may not admit it publicly, but given the winger’s individual drive and clear desire for personal accolades, missing out on the all-time goal involvements record would be a bitter blow. Given how close he was, it would represent an underwhelming end to what has been a remarkable campaign.
There may even be a slight sense of regret despite winning the title. In Salah’s defense, the downturn is perhaps not surprising. His numbers in the first three quarters of the season were unprecedented; maintaining those levels isn’t easy.
In general, the team’s performances have been on a slow downward trajectory for months. The Reds toiled to victories over Everton, West Ham and Leicester City, winning all three by a single goal. Then there was the subpar loss to Fulham, one of Arne Slot’s worst days since taking the post as Liverpool boss, while the displays against Chelsea and Arsenal since winning the league have, understandably, lacked the same intensity.
Since the Southampton win, only the 5-1 win over Spurs saw Liverpool play with poise and incision, and Salah was one of the shining lights on the sunny afternoon at Anfield. He has also been unfortunate, at times seeing chances flash just wide or teammates miss shots from his carefully weighed passes. The slice of fortune that existed in the first part of the season has dissipated.
Even impressive displays – such as against Arsenal on Sunday – have failed to yield goals or assists. He needs just two more at Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday, or at home to Crystal Palace on the final day, to ensure his incredible campaign ends with the historic personal reward it so richly deserves.
