Mo Salah deep-dive: how statistics prove forward is one of best in Liverpool history

After Mohamed Salah became Liverpool’s standalone fourth-highest goals corer, let’s take a look at how his statistics vindicate his success at the club.

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur FC v Liverpool FC - Premier League | Sebastian Frej/MB Media/GettyImages

North London, 22nd December 2024. Dominik Szoboszlai rolls the ball across for Mohamed Salah to stroke in.

229 not out, Salah’s double at Tottenham Hotspur pulls him up another ranking in a rollcall of the greatest in Liverpool’s history.

Rush, Hunt, Hodgson, Salah, the best of the best. Billy Liddell is himself one of Liverpool’s greatest, some nicknamed the city ‘Liddellpool’, during his 23-year spell at Anfield.

Just a tip of the iceberg, one statistic googled, pick one, any one, is enough to show Salah’s prowess. Here is Mo Salah in numbers across his entire Liverpool career.

Mo Salah: The Beginning- 32 goals

Salah scored 32 league goals during his first season at Liverpool, off an xG of 24.1. Salah top and tailed 2017/18, with a goal on opening day against Watford and on the final day against Brighton.

What makes this all the more remarkable, is this is still very much a Liverpool team in development.

In March, Salah scored his first Liverpool hat-trick, finishing with four goals at home to Watford.

Mohame Salah, Roberto Firmino
Watford v Liverpool - Premier League | Alex Broadway/GettyImages

The Reds finished reasonably comfortably in fourth place in the Premier League. Salah also racks up ten assists in the competition.

Salah’s season ends in heartbreak as he trudges off the pitch in Kiev after being injured by Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos in the Champions League final.

The following season entails a 22-goal haul for Salah, and a Salah-high 32 induced fouls, as Liverpool garner the consistency that leads them to a close second in the Premier League table.

Salah’s European campaign was one of the most memorable in club history, as the Reds eventually defeat Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final.

The Egyptian earns seven goal involvements in the Champions League. He scores the penalty to open the scoring in the final, after missing the semi-final second leg against Barcelona through injury.

Mo Salah: Premier League glory- 29 in 33

Salah earns 29 goal involvements in 33 games as Liverpool storm to their first Premier League title in 30 years.

He scores the second goal as Liverpool defeat the champions Manchester City at Anfield, and doubles the scoring against Manchester United in January, which de facto seals the title.

Dejan Lovren, Mohamed Salah, Xherdan Shaqiri
Liverpool FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League | Pool/GettyImages

During that campaign, Salah reached the 100 Premier League appearance mark, having scored 70 goals, eclipsing Liverpool’s previous best at that milestone (Fernando Torres, 63).

The following season saw the Reds splutter midway through the campaign as injuries took hold midway through.

Salah’s shots on target percentage drops by five per cent, although Salah sees more of the ball in his Liverpool career, completing the most passes (1067) for the Reds.

Mo Salah: Liverpool’s post-covid tumult- 31 in all comps

The Reds emerge from the lockdowns with a quadruple-chasing season in 2021/22, finishing runners-up in the Premier League, reaching the Champions League final, and earning a cup double.

Salah scores 31 goals in all competitions as the Reds chase the lot. He scored a hat-trick at Old Trafford as Liverpool defeated Manchester United 5-0.

For the fifth season in-a-row, Salah at least matches his xG with his goal return, proving how clinical he is.

In this campaign, Salah wins his third Premier League golden boot, and also earns the Playmaker of the Season accolade with 13 league assists.

Liverpool stalled the following season, but Salah’s goal tally still stood firm, notching 19 in the Premier League.

Mohamed Salah - Winger - Born 1992
Rangers FC v Liverpool FC: Group A - UEFA Champions League | Visionhaus/GettyImages

Salah also scored eight goals in eight Champions League appearances, including a hat-trick in a seven-goal win at Glasgow Rangers, as Liverpool eventually crashed out against Real Madrid.

Last season, Salah got off to a red-hot start in the Premier League scoring ten goals in the Reds’ first twelve Premier League games.

He was called away on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January, before sustaining a couple of injuries. His decline in form upon return, aligned with a drop-off among the Liverpool team generally.

Mo Salah: slotting under Slot- double-figures

Mo Salah scores on Liverpool’s opening day win at newly-promoted Ipswich Town, breaking the previous record of eight goals on Premier League opening day.

He earnt three goal involvements in Liverpool’s statement 3-0 win at Manchester United in September.

Salah scored in seven consecutive Premier League games, including a couple of doubles between October and December.

FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-BRIGHTON
FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-BRIGHTON | DARREN STAPLES/GettyImages

He scored his 50th Champions League goal in Liverpool’s win over Girona.

Salah became the first Premier League player to earn double-figure goals and assists prior to Christmas.

He now faces a decision over his next contract at Liverpool, having looked renewed under Arne Slot.