On what was supposed to be a quiet day of news, as it is the start of an international break, a bombshell dropped. Mohamed Salah announced that he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, despite still having two years remaining on the bumper contract he signed less than a year ago. Given that the Egyptian currently earns more than £400,000-per-week, the club are willing to facilitate his departure.
Since arriving from Roma in 2017, Salah has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances for the Reds, behind only Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346) in the club's entire history. His favourites opponent, and specifically venue, is Manchester United's Old Trafford.
As noted by Duncan Alexander of the Athletic, in the 2020s, only seven men have scored more Premier League goals at Old Trafford, and yes, that includes Man United players.
Leading Premier League scorers at Old Trafford (2020-present)
Players | Club | Old Trafford goals |
|---|---|---|
Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | 39 |
Marcus Rashford | Manchester United | 27 |
Anthony Martial | Manchester United | 16 |
Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United | 14 |
Scott McTominay | Manchester United | 11 |
Mason Greenwood | Manchester United | 9 |
Casemiro | Manchester United | 8 |
Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 7 |
Rasmus Højlund | Manchester United | 7 |
Alejandro Garnacho | Manchester United | 7 |
Amad Diallo | Manchester United | 6 |
Astonishingly, since 1 January 2020, only seven Manchester United players have scored more Premier League goals at Old Trafford than Mohamed Salah, with Casemiro surpassing him only recently. Salah even scored at Old Trafford for Egypt against New Zealand during the 2012 Olympics, Chris Wood on target for the Kiwis in a 1-1 draw, as the Pharaohs reached the quarter-finals!
Well, the Egyptian could still add to his tally, given that the Reds will visit their fiercest rivals on the weekend of 2 May, a clash that could be key in the top five race.
So, who are Salah's favourite opponents overall in his Liverpool career?
Clubs Mohamed Salah has scored 10+ Liverpool goals against
Opponents | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
Manchester United | 18 | 16 |
West Ham United | 19 | 13 |
Tottenham Hotspur | 20 | 13 |
Manchester City | 24 | 13 |
Bournemouth | 14 | 12 |
Southampton | 13 | 11 |
Brighton & Hove Albion | 20 | 11 |
Aston Villa | 14 | 10 |
Arsenal | 18 | 10 |
Newcastle United | 19 | 10 |
Man United are very much Salah's favourite victims, bagging 16 goals against them, making the Red Devils his preferred opponents. The Egyptian's farewell tour will commence at the Etihad on Easter weekend, hoping to fire Arne Slot's team through to the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.
In the Premier League, with seven games to go, Liverpool face a real fight to make sure they finish in the top five, with a Merseyside derby at Hill Dickinson Stadium as well as visits to Villa Park and Old Trafford still on their schedule. While attempting to qualify for next year's edition, they are of course still involved in this season's Champions League too.
Holders Paris Saint-Germain stand in their way in the quarter-finals and, if the Reds harbour any hopes of being in Budapest in late-May, they'll need Salah to rediscover his magic touch. That would be a fitting farewell for one of the greatest players in Liverpool's entire history and, even though he's been far from his best this season, Salah should expect quite the send off.