Salah silences Bees with timely return
Mohamed Salah saw his hopes of silverware quickly evaporate before his eyes last month after suffering a hamstring injury during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Picked up in Egypt’s second group game against Ghana, with the Pharaohs at risk of a shock early elimination, he watched their final group from Cape Verde anxiously from the stands before returning to Merseyside for treatment.
Originally anticipated to be out until the quarter-finals, it soon became clear his finals were as good as over. His agent, Ramy Abbas Issa confirmed the forward’s setback was worse than first feared and he would be out for three to four weeks. While Egypt now hoped for a semi-final return, such a diagnosis left a return even in time for the final as unlikely.
Salah was criticised heavily in his homeland for returning to Liverpool prematurely, with the Pharaohs then suffering a round-of-16 exit in his absence to make talk of a potential return obsolete in the process. A two-time Africa Cup of Nations runner-up, with injury in 2018 also undermining his involvement at Egypt’s first World Cup appearance since 1990, his international career is at risk of remaining a bridesmaid.
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The 31-year-old will be 33 when the next continental tournament takes place in Morocco in the summer of 2025, while he’ll celebrate his 34th birthday during the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Yet while his international dreams ended in disappointment once again this month, it could prove to be a rather different story at Liverpool.
Returning to team training on Tuesday after 26 days on the sidelines, he would have missed the Africa Cup of Nations final regardless, even if Egypt had progressed. But he returned at the perfect time for the Reds, to the delight of his adoring fans, as Klopp’s men start to eye up their first silverware of the season.
Introduced prematurely as a 44th minute substitute for the injured Diogo Jota, the forward was understandably rusty at first in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Brentford.
He was jeered by Bees fans when Luis Diaz’s low cross in first half stoppage-time just rebounded off his unaware shins, while was on the receiving end of similar treatment after the break when getting a poked shot horribly wrong as he shot wide when one-on-one after getting in behind the defence.
Yet Salah would have the last laugh. It was his pass in the 55th minute that set up Alexis Mac Allister to double the Reds’ lead, before it was third-time lucky from the Egyptian as he finished smartly when running onto a Cody Gakpo flick-on.
His 19th goal and ninth assists of the season, it won’t be long before he hits the 20-goal mark and double figures respectively.
Salah’s strike against the Bees was his fourth from five substitute appearances this season, and 13th from the bench in total for Liverpool. He is now the joint-third highest goalscoring substitute in the club’s history behind Roberto Firmino (16), and David Fairclough (18).
Yet, perhaps we shouldn’t expect too many more this year from the Reds’ best player. After all, normally the first name on the teamsheet, injuries to Jota and Darwin Nunez ensure his return to action is even more timely.
Back in time for next weekend’s League Cup final, he’ll look to get the better of former club Chelsea at Wembley. With his side still clear at the top of the table and competing on all four fronts on his return, it won’t be the only silverware he has in his sights.
And after missing out on this year’s Africa Cup of Nations crown, adding to his trophy haul at Anfield at least offers the perfect motivation and consolation for Liverpool’s Egyptian King.
‘There’s only one Conor Bradley!’
“Young players go through different moments in the early days of their career,” Jurgen Klopp said at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “Flying, not flying, working hard, not being influential.
“Not him, but all young players in general. The younger you are, the more likely it is.”
Such a quote was in reference to Harvey Elliott following the England Under-21s international’s two assists off the bench in last weekend’s win over Burnley. Alas for the 20-year-old, such a showing did not earn him a start away at Brentford, though the Reds’ growing injury woes could see that change in the weeks ahead.
But fellow 20-year-old Conor Bradley was back in the starting XI at the Gtech Community Stadium after missing two games when on compassionate leave following the death of his father. Named the club’s player of the month for January after returning a goal and five assists from six appearances, the Northern Ireland international is certainly flying.
‘There’s only one Conor Bradley!’ Anfield chanted repeatedly on his last performance for the club, when returning a goal and assist in the Reds’ 4-1 thrashing of Chelsea last month.
It took just nine minutes in the capital for the young right-back to be the subject of supporters’ affections again, while he was also afforded such treatment when replaced after 83 minutes.
Bradley was unable to add to his goal or assist count against the Bees, but it wasn’t through lack of trying as he went close to scoring on two occasions. But while not as headline-worthy as his last outing, this was another impressive, mature display from the youngster, earning the praise of his manager in the process.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined with a recurrence of his knee injury, the Northern Irishman’s return was most timely.
While the England international was sidelined, Klopp still had to fit three into two when selecting his starting full-backs after Joe Gomez overcame illness. He could have started at either right-back or left-back, but was instead named as substitute as the German opted for two specialists in Bradley and Andy Robertson.
Given the equally-impressive form of Gomez before illness, such a decision suggests that it is indeed the Northern Irishman who is Alexander-Arnold’s first-choice deputy. Consequently, Bradley could well find himself starting at Wembley when Liverpool return to Wembley next weekend for the League Cup final and reacquaint themselves with Chelsea.
Making his 10th appearance of the season against Brentford, such an outing was only his third in the Premier League. Both totals would surely be higher if not for a back injury suffered in pre-season that ruled him out until November.
But he is now back and making up for lost time. Continually to fly in the first team, while Klopp has warned such form might not last given his age, for now Liverpool and Bradley are riding the wave.
Klopp relief over Kelleher transfer decision
On transfer deadline day, Nottingham Forest tested Liverpool’s resolve for Caoimhin Kelleher only to be told to go packing.
While the Reds never had any intention of selling their back-up goalkeeper, less than three weeks later they must be so relieved by that stubborn stance.
The Irishman caught the eye with some big saves against Burnley last weekend when replacing Alisson Becker, and stepped up again against Brentford following the Brazilian’s hamstring injury.
One save to keep out an Ivan Toney header in the second half was stunning, and ensured Liverpool were able to avoid a nervy finish in their 4-1 win. Meanwhile, Kelleher was unfortunate to see the Bees striker get the better of him when converting the rebound following a good save from Sergio Reguilon.
While the Reds don’t yet know when Alisson will be fit to return, it feels safe to assume that Kelleher will be required to start the midweek Premier League visit of Luton Town and FA Cup fifth round clash with Southampton either side of the League Cup final – a game he already knows he will start.
If that indeed comes to fruition, it will be the 25-year-old’s longest run in Klopp’s starting XI.
Of course, the time will come when he moves on in search of regular first team football if it remains lacking Anfield with Alisson ahead of him in the pecking order. Maybe a new manager will grant such a departure come the summer.
But Klopp and Liverpool will remain most thankful that Kelleher remains their property for now after spurning Forest’s advances in January. If the Reds are to be celebrating multiple trophy wins at the end of the season, the shot-stopper’s involvement will extend far beyond replicating his previous League Cup exploits.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.