Egyptian sensation Mohamed Salah led Liverpool to the semi-finals of football’s most elite club competition, the UEFA Champions League, following the Reds’ 2-1 (5-1 aggregate) win against Manchester City on Tuesday night.
Despite fears that an injury would prevent Salah from playing, the Liverpool star appeared not only in perfect fitness but on top form as he scored Liverpool’s equalizing goal to give them the crucial away goal.
While Manchester City have enjoyed a strong season, they struggled twice against the Reds, losing both legs of the quarter-final. They suffered a 3-0 thrashing at Anfield in the first leg, and yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Liverpool gave the Reds an emphatic aggregate victory.
However, yesterday’s match saw City off to a perfect start, with Gabriel Jesus scoring the first goal after less than two minutes. However, Salah and Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino turned Liverpool’s fortunes when they scored two second-half goals to progress Liverpool into the semis.
After a thrilling encounter, Liverpool are just three steps away – including two semi-final encounters, and, if they make it, the final) from their sixth Champions League title. The Reds have not reached the final since the 2006-07 season, when they lost to A. C. Milan after a memorable match.
Salah has enjoyed an incredible season with Liverpool, being the top scorer in the Barclays Premier League. He has thrived with the Pharaohs too, leading Egypt to their first World Cup in 28 years.
He has picked up major awards including the BBC African Player of the Year, and stands as the top scorer in Europe’s top five leagues. He is currently in the running of potentially winning his first Ballon D’Or award, rumored to be the main threat to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s decade-long duopoly of the prestigious award.
