The announcement of Mo Salah’s departure from Liverpool this summer has led to widespread tributes being paid to the Egyptian king. And rightly so.
The 33-year-old is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to have ever graced Anfield and an all-time Premier League icon.
Salah moved to Merseyside in the summer of 2017 and was instantly branded a “Chelsea reject” after an unhappy 12 months with the Blues three years prior. Things quickly changed as he ripped up the record books.
Only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt have scored more goals for Liverpool than Salah’s 255 and counting. No player has more goal contributions for one club in the Premier League era than his 277 and counting.
While there could still be more magical moments in the months to come as he looks to sign off in fitting fashion, here are the 11 best from Liverpool’s iconic No.11.
First goal for Liverpool
It all started at Vicarage Road and rather fittingly Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino also scored in a thrilling 3-3 opening-day draw with Watford.
Salah had put Liverpool 3-2 up with one of the easiest finishes of his career, poking home after Firmino lobbed the ball over Heurelho Gomes and into his direction. It was an early sign of the forwards’ near-telepathic connection.
The result showed Liverpool still lacked the defensive solidity to challenge for the title, which Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho and Alisson soon provided. But it was the start of something. Something special.
First Premier League goal at Anfield
Salah scored on his Anfield debut in a Champions League qualifying round win over Hoffenheim. But this was his true arrival in front of his soon-to-be adoring fans.
The Reds ran riot against a hapless Arsenal side with all of Liverpool’s thrilling front three striking once again. Salah’s goal was the pick of the bunch though.
There were just 12 seconds between the Gunners taking a corner and the Egyptian coolly slotting past Petr Cech. It showed the now-ruthless nature of the Reds’ counter-attack and Salah’s unnerving finishing.
It was the first of 107 Premier League goals at the ground. Will a few more come yet?
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Brighton strike in 2024 winter of absolute content
When people debate which was Salah’s best season, answers will almost certainly be either his debut campaign (2017-18) or his last stand as a great (2024-25).
For a 38-game season, he broke the goal record in the first with 32 strikes and the goal contributions in the second with 47.
He did most of his damage in the winter months of 2024 with his stunning strike against Brighton and Hove Albion proof of a player operating at peak efficiency, if not his absolute peak as a player.
Cutting inside after picking up the ball on the right, he curled home in typical fashion to complete a comeback that solidified the Reds place at the top of the table.
Rocket strike against Chelsea in 2019
Games against Chelsea must always have had a special meaning for Salah. Particularly in the earlier years.
Chasing the title in 2019, he sent Anfield into a frenzy with a left-footed rocket from all of 30 yards that left Kepa Arrizabalaga with no chance.
It was one of few long-range efforts from the Egyptian in his nine years with Liverpool and a moment to remember.
With a likely pivotal league game in the chase for top five still to come, as well as a potential FA Cup semi or final, could he give both Liverpool and Chelsea fans one more goal to remember him by?
Brilliant goal at Man City in 2018 Champions League quarter-final
Salah scored in both legs of this stunning quarter-final win, obviously. He struck the opener in a dominant 3-0 win at Anfield but his goal at the Etihad sealed victory.
Premier League champions-elect Manchester City had started on fire, scoring early as they chased a comeback win. Liverpool knew an away goal would guarantee a first semi-final in 10 years.
Salah provided it, beautifully lifting the ball over Ederson and into the net after strong work from Mane.
It set the Reds on their way towards the final and gave Klopp final proof his side could challenge Man City for the title the very next season.
His first goal against Man Utd
No side has suffered the wrath of Salah more than Liverpool’s greatest rivals. The Egyptian has scored a ridiculous 16 goals and assisted six more in just 18 appearances against Manchester United.
What makes that record even more impressive is that he failed to score in any of his first four appearances in the north-west clash.
Not until January 2020 would he strike. And it came deep into added time. With Man Utd chasing an equaliser, Alisson punted a long ball in his direction and he did the rest.
It near-sealed a first title in 30 years and sparked wild celebrations, with Salah famously taking his shirt off.
250th goal for the Reds
It’s been a very tough season for both Liverpool and Salah for several reasons.
However, there has still been the odd good moment with the 2-0 win over Aston Villa at the start of November being one of them.
It saw the Reds end a four-game Premier League losing streak and Salah score his 250th goal for the club. Emiliano Martinez giftwrapped it for him in truth.
Just the third player to reach that tally after Rush and Hunt, it may just be the final significant milestone or moment for the Egyptian.
Stunning 2021 strike against Man City
This is the Salah goal. If you close your eyes, you can see it.
He’s scored several like it. Weaving in and out of defenders before finishing from a tight angle. But this is the best of the lot especially when you consider it was on his weaker foot and at a crucial period in a huge game.
The goal put Liverpool ahead against Man City, who would eventually equalise in a 2-2 draw, but it summed up his brilliance. A big goal from a big game player.
A historic hat-trick at Old Trafford
As mentioned, Salah has made a yearly habit of piling the pain onto Man Utd. But this was the ultimate.
In a 5-0 win that was the nadir of the entire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era and perhaps the post-Sir Alex Ferguson wilderness years, he struck a hat-trick. And it seemed like he did it at half pace such was the gulf between the two sides.
He remains the only opposition player to ever score three in a Premier League (post-1992) game at Old Trafford.
He will have one more chance to hurt the Red Devils when the clubs meet at the same ground in early May.
2025 Premier League champion
It feels much longer than 11 months ago but Liverpool still are the reigning Premier League champions.
Of course, they had won the title in 2020 but the pandemic meant no fan was in attendance for what should have been a day of days for the Reds.
Five years later it came with Tottenham Hotspur demolished 5-1 for good measure. Salah got in on the act late on with a typical left-footed finish after cutting in from the right.
The tragic death of Diogo Jota – a close friend of Salah – makes this all the more poignant but it was the best day on Merseyside for the Egyptian and so many others.
Goal in 2019 Champions League final
That wasn’t his best-ever Liverpool moment though given the title was a foregone conclusion. A Champions League final is just that bit more significant.
Coincidentally, it also came against Tottenham in what must feel like a different lifetime for fans of the North London club.
And it came after just 106 seconds from the penalty spot after Moussa Sissoko was judged to have handled the ball. Salah smashed home past Lloris to send the red section of the Metropolitano wild.
The Reds went onto lift their sixth European title and kickstart the Jurgen Klopp trophy era in some style. For Salah personally, it was 12 months in the making after Sergio Ramos forced him off in the previous final.
It was hardly a cracker but is undoubtedly the most important of the 255 he has struck for the club. So far. It is also his only goal in final for the club. So far.
Who knows what the next two months might bring as the Egyptian king’s reign comes to an end?