Few smiles in a muted celebration, but let’s salute magical Mo

IF LIVERPOOL really are to win the Premier League then Mo Salah must be the man to lead them to it. From that point of view, Saturday lunchtime at Bournemouth felt like a staging post for one of the most remarkable and unique talents English football has ever seen. Liverpool’s Egyptian has not been at this best this season. In fact he has not been anywhere near it. At Bournemouth, however, the Salah of 2017-18 returned. Goal one was offside. Goals two and three were stunning. Salah’s final effort was so sublime as to be one of his very best for the club. Courage, desire, speed, spatial awareness, balance, vision, confidence and perfect technique. Take one away and it would not have happened. But it did happen. As has often been the case this season, the goal’s beauty was not matched by Salah’s celebration. Once again, it was muted, Salah facing his team’s own supporters with a look that we could easily be interpreted as indifference if we did not known him so well. Certainly it is strange. Salah works so hard for his goals — both with and without the ball — it seems contrary that when they come they do not trigger a greater release. Brighton centre forward Glenn Murray recently likened the pursuit of goals to a drug. Maybe Salah wishes to give us the impression that it all comes a little easy to him, that it really is no big deal. Liverpool and their manager Jurgen Klopp will not care. Just as long as the goals keep coming. Having looked a little blunt at times recently, the league leaders this weekend found that attacking dexterity that so characterised their play last season. If it signals a move through the gears then Manchester City may yet have a real challenge on their hands after all. City remain favourites for this title. Their squad is deeper and when Sergio Aguero and Kevin de Bruyne return from injury, Pep Guardiola’s team may find another level all of their own. But for Liverpool to lead one of the greatest top-flight teams of all time as we near the halfway point of the season is a stunning achievement, nevertheless. At Bournemouth, Klopp’s team were imperious and must have been terrifying to play against. There was an improved performance from Roberto Firmino, who has struggled recently, and Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri showed again why he deserves to be considered as one of the summer’s best signings in the Premier League. They say there is no value in the market but Shaqiri cost just £13million from Stoke City and looks worth twice that amount. However, if Liverpool are to outrun City between now and May, it must be Salah setting the pace. A goalscorer who doesn’t smile? It never looks quite right. But Eric Cantona didn’t celebrate goals much either and, two-and-half decades on, we are still in his thrall.