SIZZLING SALAH IS QUICK OFF THE MARK
EVEN by his standards, this was remarkable. The intention was for Mohamed Salah to have 30 minutes, to stretch his legs and try to shake off any lingering rustiness. It had been 60 days since Salah’s last Liverpool appearance but within 52 seconds it was as if he had never been away. A bullet header planted firmly past Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart and the Egyptian was off the mark, putting a twist on the term quick single. As ever, the smile that followed was broad. His demeanour contrasted with how Liverpool fans saw him in the Champions League final. Salah leaving the field in tears, his shoulder damaged after a tumble with Sergio Ramos, was a defining image in Kiev and the injury clearly hindered him at the World Cup in Russia. But at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Salah made a statement of intent. Some will feel last season’s haul of 44 goals was a one-off, but if his cameo in the 2-1 victory over City is a sign of things to come, he looks set to keep the number crunchers busy again. ‘The best players in the world aren’t known because they just did something in one season,’ said Liverpool midfielder James Milner. ‘They do it over and over again. Mo is more than capable of doing that. He is a top player. He is going to keep improving. ‘But it’s down to all of us to keep improving as a side with him and make sure the pressure isn’t just on his shoulders to deliver the goals.’ Liverpool, undoubtedly, will entertain again and with Sadio Mane, who scored the winner against City from the penalty spot, and Roberto Firmino in assistance, Jurgen Klopp’s supply line of goals is rich. Yet for all that the manager focuses on the group, there is no question over who is the main figure. Salah, who has undergone extra gym sessions and had regular massages to strengthen his shoulder, proved that. Apart from the goal, which cancelled out Leroy Sane’s superb finish, Salah had a header cleared off the line and struck the bar after streaking clear. There was a reason Liverpool made him their top earner with a five-year deal this month and here was an exciting glimpse. ‘I wasn’t worried about him,’ said Milner. ‘He’s happy. I don’t see any reason why he’d want to go.’