The rise and rise of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah
Egypt's Mohamed Salah has taken the EPL by storm, ever since his £34.3 mn move to Liverpool from Roma in the summer. The 25-year-old forward has already scored 21 goals and registered 6 assists in 25-games. His tally is even more impressive, considering that he scored it from a wide midfield position, rather than a central striking role. Here's more about this Liverpool legend.
Salah became the fastest Liverpool player to reach 20 Premier League goals, achieving the feat in 25 games, two games quicker than former Liverpool strikers Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge.
Dubbed as the Egyptian Messi in his younger days, Salah today has become a national hero. He scored two fantastic goals, including a late penalty against Congo, last October to secure Egypt's place in the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This is the first time 'The Pharaohs' have qualified for the mega football carnival since 1990.
But life was not always so rosy for the Salah. When he was 14, he travelled for more than four hours by bus to reach his training session and then took the same route back home. Difficulties were a part of his life, but that did not stop him from his goal of being a professional footballer.
Salah first burst into the European scene, when he scored two goals against Chelsea in the Champions League for Basel. Chelsea immediately went out and bought the Egyptian for £11 mn in January, 2014. As fate would have it, even though Liverpool wanted him, Salah opted to move to Stamford Bridge. Little did he know, he was going to leave London soon.
Salah's time at Chelsea was not a memorable one. Tough competition meant that he made 13 appearances scoring just 2 goals before moving to Fiorentina on loan. Salah's spell in England was considered a massive failure as he failed to live up to his massive potential. But 3 years later, the Egyptian was reborn as a whole new player with an eye for goal.
Ever since Coutinho left Liverpool, there was a massive void left in the side, but that has not stopped Salah. Salah has only upped his game and is now only behind Harry Kane, who has 22 goals to his name in this season. With World Cup coming next, all eyes will be on the 25-year-old who is ready to set the stage on fire.
