Mostly, Salah’s role is the inevitable consequence of the maturity of a senior player who recognises his leadership role. There are echoes of Harry Kane realising he can no longer rely on playing on the shoulder of the last defender, the strength, conditioning and all-round nous creating a more rounded player, while the lethal finishing prowess remains.
Logic suggests the Egyptian should be slowing down in his thirties, the rapid pace which typified the first part of his Liverpool career sure to be compromised with age. Signs of wear and tear are barely noticeable, however.
Salah’s minutes-per-goal ratio has slightly increased over the last two years, although his greater likelihood of supplying the final pass means his overall goal involvements are in the same ballpark they have always been.
There has been no significant change in Salah’s number of goal attempts or touches in the opposition penalty area per game, but Salah is creating more chances and attempting fewer dribbles – thus retaining possession more than he did. Salah’s rate of long passes has also increased, another sign that he is hunting team-mates more regularly from wider or deeper positions.
Most important for Slot and those wondering how long one of Liverpool’s greatest players can maintain elite levels, the all-important ‘eye test’ demonstrates that no striker in the country is working harder while being as productive as Salah.
Salah is joint-third in the goal charts, joint-second in the assist charts and has had more touches than any wide striker in the Premier League this season. Only Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has a similar profile as an attacker who is involved in all facets of a game.
A legend still at the top of his game
Salah has already notched up more milestones than a serial marathon runner during his seven years at Anfield. More are on the horizon in Leipzig on Wednesday night.
He is just two goals away from a 50th in Europe for Liverpool, and three from a century of away strikes when taking in all competitions.
Should he start in the Red Bull Arena against Leipzig, he will trail just Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher when it comes to Liverpool appearances in Uefa’s premier club competition.
Mohamed Salah and Kostas Tsimikas of Liverpool waiting to depart on the plane at Liverpool John Lennon Airport on October 22, 2024 for the Champions League match against RB Leipzig
Salah and Kostas Tsimikas relax on the plane before departure for Leipzig on Tuesday Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Powell
We are witnessing a legend still at the top of his game, and the number crunchers tasked with establishing Salah’s current value in the midst of lengthy transfer negotiations must be pounding the calculators after every match day.
Whatever they believe his worth will be at the end of the next two-year contract cycle, his contribution so far is as close to priceless as conceivable in modern football.
0 Comments