In yet another game were Liverpool failed to pick up all three points due to an incompetent defence, Mohamed Salah was one of few star players that shone in the 2-2 draw.
After Sevilla went ahead very early on through poor defending from the hosts, Salah was quickest to recover and inspire the Reds to comeback, with Roberto Firmino finding the net in the 21st minute. The link up between the front three of Salah, Firmino and Sadio Mane – available for the Champions League fixture – was at times impossible to deal with for the away side, and it proved to be effective as the Liverpool goal arrived after an impressive build-up from the attackers.
Salah was, however, the main man in driving his side forward, holding up the ball well and showing great patience to eventually pick out the pass to get the home team up the pitch. He then showed his knack for goal with an albeit fortunate effort before half time, with his shot looping in via a deflection off Simon Kjaer.
The Egyptian – playing once again down the right-hand side – tormented the Sevilla defence all evening with his incredible pace and brutish strength, and looked more likely than anyone to find the crucial goal in a game that the Reds really should have finished off much earlier.
With all of Salah’s attacking flair, Liverpool have now conceded eight goals in three league games so far this season, while they have now also failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 of their last 12 Champions League games. Jurgen Klopp can certainly be satisfied with the Belgian and his attacking team mates, with Philippe Coutinho also returning to the action tonight in the 75th minute, but he surely cannot be content given the huge problems the defence and goalkeepers have faced so far this season.
After his first half goal, Salah has now become the first Egyptian player to score on his Champions League debut for two clubs (Basel and Liverpool), yet the Reds have only won one of their nine Champions League home games against Spanish opposition, a stat that not even Salah’s best efforts could change in the somewhat disappointing result at Anfield.
Salah will undoubtedly maintain his brilliant form in the upcoming fixture with Burnley this Saturday, and Liverpool fans will hope he can inspire the rest of the squad to bounce back after last weekend’s result and this midweek stutter.
