It was a night to remember for Mohamed Salah, who made history by scoring his 50th European goal for Liverpool, a feat that not only highlighted his incredible individual achievement but also ensured the team secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Egyptian King made history by becoming the first player in Liverpool’s storied history to reach this milestone, opening the scoring in the 34th minute of a tense 2-1 win over Lille at Anfield.
Salah’s strike came at a crucial moment. Curtis Jones, with a well-weighted through ball, set up the perfect opportunity for Salah to extend his tally, and he didn’t disappoint. The Reds’ talisman made no mistake, coolly slotting the ball into the net to send the crowd into raptures. After the match, when asked about the significance of the goal, Salah was humble as ever, telling Amazon Prime Video, “Hopefully [I’m] not the last one, but it’s something I’m very happy and proud about – and especially because we won the game, so that’s the most important thing.”
While Salah’s milestone certainly stole the headlines, the night was also defined by another standout performance from Harvey Elliott. Coming off the bench at halftime, Elliott made an immediate impact, scoring the decisive goal that handed Liverpool a seventh consecutive win in the group stages. His deflected shot, just moments after Lille had equalized through Jonathan David, ensured the French side’s 21-match unbeaten run came to a halt. The 2-1 win at Anfield not only saw Liverpool progress but also maintained their perfect record in the competition.
Salah couldn’t help but praise Elliott’s contribution, stating, “I’m happy for him, I’m always there to help him. He’s a great lad and always tries to give his best – sometimes he plays five minutes, today he had 45 minutes. He was great, so I’m happy for him.” The bond between the two is clear, with Salah always willing to support the younger players. This team-first mentality is exactly what Liverpool need as they continue their pursuit of major honours this season.
Salah also emphasized the importance of squad depth, a crucial factor in any successful campaign. “I think when you want to win a big tournament, you have to have a big squad. We have a good one at the moment, so hopefully we carry on like that,” he said. His words are a reflection of the strength in depth Jürgen Klopp has at his disposal, with key players stepping up whenever needed. This depth is a vital component for Liverpool as they chase success both domestically and in Europe.
As for the match itself, it was not easy by any means. Lille, a team on an impressive unbeaten run of 21 matches, proved to be a tough opponent, especially in the first half. Salah acknowledged their strengths, saying, “They [Lille] have a really good game plan, I think they were unbeaten for 21 games, so it’s a tough team, and they showed that in the first half and second half.” Credit must go to the French side for their resilience, but ultimately, Liverpool’s quality shone through, and they did what they had to do to secure the win.
The victory was another important step for Liverpool as they continue their Champions League journey, and for Salah, it was yet another chapter in what has already been an incredible career at Anfield. With the team progressing and players like Elliott stepping up, the future looks bright. As Salah said, the most important thing is that they won, and with that victory, Liverpool are firmly on track to make a deep run in Europe this season.
