Mohamed Salah’s milestone 400th appearance for Liverpool was overshadowed by an astonishing miss that left fans and teammates stunned. In Monday’s clash with Brighton, the Egyptian forward failed to convert Cody Gakpo’s low cross, sending the ball wide despite facing an open goal from close range. Salah’s reaction – a bemused smile – reflected the disbelief of those watching.
Only two months ago, Salah seemed destined to break long-standing Premier League records. His brace against Southampton on 8 March brought his tally to 27 goals and 17 assists in 29 games, placing him just three goal involvements behind the record of 47 held jointly by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole. He also appeared well-placed to surpass the 20-assist season record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
However, his form has since cooled. In the last eight games, he has registered only one goal and one assist, keeping him just short of both records. The missed opportunity against Brighton further extended his wait, though Liverpool manager Arne Slot remains confident in Salah’s ability to bounce back.
Slot acknowledged the unusual nature of Salah’s recent performances, stating that while he has been “almost inhuman” this season, there have been moments where he appeared more ordinary. Slot added that it’s rare for Salah to go more than a couple of games without scoring and expressed faith that he would find the net again soon.
Salah, who captained Liverpool for the first time in the defeat to Brighton, remains optimistic. After Liverpool secured the Premier League title on 27 April, he noted that the chase for the goal involvement record continues to drive him.
Golden boot secured, Golden shoe in sight
With just one league fixture remaining, Salah is on course to claim the Premier League Golden Boot. His 28 goals place him five ahead of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, meaning only an extraordinary final day could deny him a fourth Golden Boot – a feat that would match Thierry Henry’s record at Arsenal.
Salah also remains in contention for the European Golden Shoe, though the race is tight. Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting currently leads with 39 goals, but with the Portuguese league season finished, he can only watch as others challenge his lead. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe has 29 goals, while Salah trails by one.
Although both Salah and Mbappe are behind Gyokeres in raw goals, the Golden Shoe’s weighted scoring – based on the strength of a player’s league – means either could still surpass him in points with strong performances in their final matches.
Salah’s overall impact at Liverpool since arriving from Roma in 2017 has been immense. With 244 goals and 110 assists in 400 appearances, he has contributed directly to 354 goals. He has already broken the record for goal involvements in a 38-game Premier League season, surpassing the previous bests set by Erling Haaland and Thierry Henry.
Only a select few players in Europe’s top five leagues have ever reached 50 goal contributions in a single season, a group that includes Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Salah stands on the verge of joining that elite company.
Furthermore, in matches across Europe’s major leagues, Salah has both scored and assisted in the same game on 49 occasions – behind only Messi and Ronaldo in that category since 2006-07, according to Opta data.
