Premier League: Liverpool 3-1 Arsenal - 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis

#2 Mohamed Salah lays down his marker for the season

Salah was brilliant for Liverpool

Liverpool enjoyed a scintillating 2019-20 season and were rather unlucky to have ended their domestic campaign empty handed. During the term, the Reds were able to call upon their galaxy of stars, which included Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian returned late for pre-season and his absence significantly hamstrung Jurgen Klopp’s team in those friendlies. And, come the game against Arsenal, Salah just hammered home how important he is to Liverpool’s irresistible machine.

Though he was deprived of the ball in the early stages of the match, the forward rarely lost his concentration and kept prancing for potential cracks in Arsenal’s defensive wall.

Salah was rewarded for his persistence in the formative stages of the second half when he deceived Luiz with a quick one-two and drew the foul. He stepped up and deliciously whipped the resulting spot kick into the top-corner to double his league tally for the season.

Yet, akin to all great players, that goal didn’t satiate his thirst, rather it ignited him to sparkle further.

In the 58th minute, he collected the ball near the half-way line and left Luiz for dead with an immaculate burst of pace. He cut inside Nacho Monreal, carried his run into the box and slotted the ball coolly past Leno.

For a part of last season, there were quite a few people doubting Salah’s ability on the big stage, with his record against the Premier League’s big boys causing a furrowed brow or two.

However, the Egyptian has started silencing his critics, especially since the game against Bayern Munich in March 2019.

And, as for his proud Golden Boot record, one reckons he doesn’t intend to let go of that, anytime soon.