30 goals in one Premier League season: Salah becomes 1st African player to hit mark

Mohamed Abdel Megeed
2 Min Read
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 06: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his sides seventh goal during the UEFA Champions League group E match between Liverpool FC and Spartak Moskva at Anfield on December 6, 2017 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

England’s giant Liverpool FC settled in third place in the Premier League table after beating Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday thanks to the team’s Egyptian star Mohamed Salah’s superb header from Alexander-Arnold’s cross in the 69th minute.

Salah took another step closer to the Golden Boot by scoring his 30th Premier League goal of the season, becoming the first African and Arab player to hit that mark. It was Salah’s 40th goal in all competitions. He is also the first Liverpool player to achieve this since Ian Rush in the 1980s.

The 25-year-old Salah’s stunning performance this season astonished Liverpool fans who became possessed by the “Egyptian King”, as they now call him.

Since he moved from AS Roma in a £37m deal last summer, Salah has proven himself as a quality international player, breaking many long-standing records in the league.

Salah now needs one more goal to join the players who share the Premier League 38-game season record at 31 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo, Alan Shearer, and former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez all sit on that mark.

Salah surpassed Barcelona’s star Lionel Messi, who sits on 29 goals, as he failed to score in Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Valencia on Saturday.

In the UEFA Champions League, Salah scored twice in Liverpool’s 5-1 aggregate victory over Manchester City, securing a remarkable qualification for the semi-finals stage. It will be the first time for the Reds to play in the Champions League semi-final since the 2007/2008 season. Salah became the fourth highest African scorer in the Champions League with 11 goals. Didier Drogba is Africa’s top scorer in the European competition with 44 goals throughout his career.

Ironically, the European draw made on Friday placed Liverpool versus AS Roma, as Salah will face an emotional clash against his former team to battle for a place in the final.

Share This Article
Leave a comment