‘He’s better than Messi’: Salah scores sensational solo goal as Liverpool and Man City play out barnstormer at Anfield (VIDEO)
Mo Salah confirmed his status as one of the world's great players by starring as Premier League heavyweights Liverpool and Manchester City played out a 2-2 draw after going toe-to-toe in a titanic tussle on Sunday.
It might have taken a while to warm up but when it did, the two teams who have collectively ushered in an era of dominance at the summit of the Premier League table in recent seasons showed exactly why they look like favorites to once again duel for English football's domestic honors.
You wouldn't have thought it watching the first half. Both teams struggled to impose themselves throughout a rather turgid opening, with Liverpool being particularly ineffective as reflected by various choruses of groans from the Anfield faithful on occasion.
Guardiola's City have struggled to find the back of the net on the road so far this season but appeared the more likely of the two to break the deadlock in the opening exchanges – although that would change after the break when Liverpool, and in particular Salah, moved closer to fifth gear.
Easy better than messi & Ronaldo right now. Goat mo Salah 🐐 pic.twitter.com/jOVfdVXef3
— Hakiim🇸🇴 (@abdiHakem10) October 3, 2021
The impasse was broken when Salah fed Sadio Mane with an exquisite reverse pass for the Senegalese to fire past Ederson on 59 minutes. The advantage wold last for just ten minutes when Phil Foden, who was also excellent, flummoxed the Liverpool backline to find the corner in front of The Kop.
The drama was far from over. Salah made his most significant contribution of the evening on 76 minutes when he turned the City defence inside-out to score a sensational strike into the corner in a goal which sent Jurgen Klopp into a frenzied celebration pitch-side.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 😱A goal we’ll never tire of watching. Out of this world from @MoSalah 👏 pic.twitter.com/mZEq9OI0Wx
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 3, 2021
7 - Mohamed Salah has now scored in each of his last seven appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, equalling his longest scoring streak for the Reds (last achieved in April 2018). Unstoppable.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 2021
A Guardiola team remains dangerous until the end and Liverpool were reminded of this unfortunate reality when Kevin De Bruyne – who else? – shot past Alisson from distance, with the ball deflecting in off an unlucky Joe Gomez.
It was as exciting a match – or second half, to be more specific – as has been seen in the Premier League this season and, after his outstanding performance, the social media plaudits have been winging Salah's way after he scored in a seventh straight game.
salah is much better than messi let’s not kid ourselves
— crip (@Cript1c_01) October 3, 2021
I’d say he’s playing better than Messi right now. Salah, Benzema and Lewa the 3 at the minute delivering pretty much every week.
— Tyler (@LUFCTy) October 3, 2021
Don’t let the result hide the fact that Mohamed Salah is the best player in the world.Give him what he wants. 🇪🇬👑 pic.twitter.com/uNPqObUPtm
— Samue (@SamueILFC) October 3, 2021
"Salah is much better than Messi – let’s not kid ourselves," wrote one fan of the Egyptian's showing.
"I’d say he’s playing better than Messi right now. Salah, Benzema and Lewandowski are the three at the minute, delivering pretty much every week," agreed another.
"Don’t let the result hide the fact that Mohamed Salah is the best player in the world," added a third.
The best of the action from a dramatic afternoon at Anfield, with two fantastic Reds goals cancelled out by Manchester City: pic.twitter.com/b9iujWG5d5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 3, 2021