Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been given a new nickname by Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson. The Egypt international scored a brace in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.
The prolific winger opened the scoring inside three minutes before Tottenham substitute Victor Wanyama scored a belter in the 80th minute to make it 1-1.
Salah thought he won the game for the Reds when he netted a wonderful goal to make it 2-1 in stoppage-time but Harry Kane equalised from the penalty spot for his 100th Premier League goal, deep into injury-time.
However, the Egyptian’s two goals took his tally to 27 goals in all competitions since moving from AS Roma in the summer.
The 25-year-old has been a revelation under Jurgen Klopp and has won many admirers across the globe for his exploits this season. The Egyptian found another fan in pundit Mark Lawrenson, who hailed his impact at Anfield against Spurs before coming up with the nickname “Merlin”.
“It’s the impossibility of how you score from there,” Lawrenson, who explained about Salah’s wonder second goal, was quoted in a report by the Express.
“They should re-name him Merlin, he is like a little magician. He was absolutely sensational. Once you are in the penalty area you can’t touch him. He is so quick and he takes three or four steps to your one. And he does the goalkeeper for fun. Absolutely brilliant.”
Indeed, Salah has been nothing less than a magician for us since signing from Roma. Very few might have expected the winger to hit such heights in his debut season for the Reds. The Egyptian looks like an inch-perfect player for Klopp. Credits to our manager for showing faith in the dynamic forward and bring him to Anfield.
Salah had a forgettable Premier League experience earlier in his career when he was signed by Jose Mourinho in 2014 for Chelsea. But things didn’t work out well for the nippy winger and Mourinho shipped him out on loan to Fiorentina the following season.
Since moving to Serie A, Salah has developed his game. The 25-year-old then spent two seasons at Roma where he impressed everyone with his speed, agility, trickery and finishing.
Liverpool came calling at the start of the season and I am glad, Salah chose us to take his game to the next level.
