Salah finds his Red-hot form again
MOHAMED Salah finally rediscovered his form – unfortunately too late for Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes – as Tottenham were dispatched in an occasionally slapdash 4-2 victory at Anfield.
A week ago it was all about the Egyptian off the pitch, with his touchline disagreement with Jurgen Klopp spilling over into his incendiary comment in the player/media zone which did little to calm the row.
But, restored to the team, Salah was in the form prior to his January hamstring injury, engaged from the start and scoring the opener to become the club’s record goalscorer against Spurs.
He provided the assists for Andy Robertson and Harvey Elliott to net the second and fourth and gave makeshift left-back Emerson Royal such a torrid time the defender found himself being singled out by team-mate Cristian Romero as they walked off at half-time, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario separating the pair.
While Romero was seemingly the only Tottenham defender willing to put his body in the way he was not without fault as he was easily outjumped by Cody Gakpo for Liverpool’s third.
The disorder within the Spurs ranks was only exceeded by the party atmosphere at Anfield on the occasion of Klopp’s penultimate appearance there as manager.
However, it was all ultimately pointless as third place had already been secured by Aston Villa’s defeat earlier in the day and the celebrations were laced with regret at a missed opportunity in the title race.
The irreversible damage was done in the last fortnight of April for Liverpool, who are five points behind leaders Arsenal.
How those fans would love to relish a dash to the line instead of trying to drag out every last moment with their beloved manager.
Emerson’s decision to completely ignore Salah , was ill-advised as the Egypt international, who started the move on the right wing, ghosted in to head in Gakpo’s deep cross in the 16th minute.
There was barely any celebration from Salah for his 25th of the season, 18th in the league, and ninth in the league goal against Spurs, passing the club record held by Roger Hunt, Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush.
On the stroke of half-time Robertson added the second after he diverted Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross into the path of Salah, whose side-footed shot was pushed out only as far as the fullback.
Salah’s tame shot at the goalkeeper should have made it 3-0 before Gakpo’s hanging header from Elliott’s cross to the far post did, with Salah then teeing up Elliott for a rasping 25-yarder into the top corner.
Spurs Substitute Richarlison slotted home a near-post shot and then Son scored after the defence completely switched off.
Alexander-Arnold almost lobbed Vicario from inside his own half, Alisson Becker brilliantly denied Richarlison before the chaos was fittingly concluded by Salah having a goal disallowed for offside.