In the best possible way, Egyptian star Mohamed Salah bid farewell to his team, Liverpool, in his last match with him before joining his country’s national team to compete in the African Nations Finals, as he led it to lead the team at the top of the English Premier League, with an exciting victory – yesterday, Monday – over its guest, Newcastle United, 4-2, in the 20th stage.
Liverpool – which only tasted defeat once this season, at Tottenham Hotspur in the seventh stage – took the lead thanks to its 13th win with 45 points, three points ahead of runner-up Aston Villa, who narrowly won over Burnley 3-2 on Saturday.
Liverpool also moved 5 points away from Manchester City, the defending champion and third-place player with one game less, and Arsenal, which fell to fourth place after suffering its second loss in a row.
Under the supervision of its coach, Eddie Howe, Newcastle suffered its third consecutive loss in the Premier League, and it only succeeded in achieving three points once in its last six matches, during which it suffered 5 defeats.
Coach Klopp’s men confirmed their superiority over Newcastle, which emerged losing in its last six confrontations with the “Reds”, and the “Maccabees” at Anfield have not won the Premier League since April 1994.
Salah, who said that his team could win the Premier League title, gave an amazing performance yesterday in the huge victory over Newcastle.
A perfect counterattack for the Reds, finished by Salah against Newcastle #Premier League #Liverpool_Newcastle pic.twitter.com/4rBGYfpelE
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 1, 2024
The British news agency “PA Media” reported that Salah regained his brilliance after failing to score a penalty kick in the first half, and scored two goals in the second half and assisted a goal, raising his score to 14 goals in the 20 matches he played this season in the league, and he is equal in the top scorers with striker ” City’s Norwegian Erling Haaland.
Mohamed Aboutrika: Who will replace Mohamed Salah? #Premier League #Liverpool_Newcastle #StudioMonday pic.twitter.com/5HMtuVqHMO
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 1, 2024
These were Salah’s last matches with Liverpool before joining the Egyptian national team, to participate in the African Cup of Nations.
Salah told Sky Sports that it was a great result. “The match was very difficult and we were able to get 3 points and now we are at the top of the standings. We must maintain our calm and win all the matches.”
When asked about his team’s chances of winning the league title, he said, “We believe in that very much. We must work hard and express ourselves on the field. If we can do this and work hard, then we can continue to achieve victories.”
Arnold gives Salah the penalty kick, but the latter misses it in front of the brilliance of the Newcastle goalkeeper#Premier League #Liverpool_Newcastle pic.twitter.com/WvGAgwKwkG
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) January 1, 2024
Salah was not happy that he was leaving the team to join the national team after missing a penalty kick – as he missed the first penalty kick after Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka excelled and blocked it, but he scored his second goal of the match from the second penalty kick.
Salah said, “I failed to score the penalty kick. I did not want to join the national team with this performance. On the first penalty kick, I was confused because the goalkeeper moved, but I took the second penalty kick as I do in training.”
