MY ACCOUNT
Mohamed Salah did not beat around the bush when he tweeted “We have a score to settle” moments after Real Madrid booked their place in the Champions League final.
Tonight’s clash between Liverpool and Los Blancos is a repeat of the 2018 showpiece when a controversial coming together between Sergio Ramos and Salah saw the Egyptian go off injured after just half-hour.
The game was goalless at the time and the Reds looked more dangerous, though they ended the evening on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline.
And revenge will be on the agenda for Liverpool’s No11 as he looks to have a defining impact at the Stade de France in Paris.
A drought
Salah, 29, claimed his third Premier League Golden Boot thanks to a strike against Wolves on the final day of the season.
But he has not been in the greatest form and had to share the honour with Heung-Min Son, who finished level with him on 23 goals.
That goal at Anfield was his first for the Merseysiders in over a month and only his fourth since the end of February.
Prior to the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah was playing the best football of his career and had struck 23 times and provided nine assists in all competitions.
But he has just eight goals and six assists since returning in February.
The floodgates are due to open and he has a point to prove, so it could well be the perfect storm against Real.
A statement performance
Karim Benzema is hotly tipped to win the Ballon d’Or after an unforgettable campaign.
Sadio Mane has emerged as a rival after success at the Africa Cup of Nations, two domestic cups with Liverpool and a potential Champions League triumph to go with his 14 goals for the Reds since the turn of the year.
However, an impressive showing in Paris could thrust Salah into contention.
Despite his form in the latter half of the season, the Egypt star was still named the Premier League’s Playmaker of the Season having notched 13 assists.
If he was to have a significant say in tonight’s final, there is no reason why he should not be a contender for the most sought-after individual honour in world football.
Make or break
Liverpool are not fickle enough to let a single performance influence their long-term thinking — but they could use it as justification.
Salah has a year remaining on his current deal at Anfield and reports suggest talks are at an impasse as the club do not want to break their wage structure to retain him.
He has been particularly vocal about the fact his demands are not excessive. He just wants what he feels he deserves.
But the 84-cap international’s performances this year will not have helped his case — though a big one in the Champions League final could certainly change the narrative.
He will want to take the opportunity to deliver and make it impossible for the Reds to say no to a new deal.
Stats tell a different story
It is worth noting that Salah’s form is also nowhere near as bad as it may first appear.
He is averaging more shots since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, while his expected goals and expected assist averages are significantly up on a per 90 minutes basis.
For context, he scored seven in the Premier League over that period from an expected goals total of 13.19.
Luck has deserted him and he is lacking confidence after a torrid time in front of goal.
These are both fixable and momentum can swing in the blink of an eye, so it would be unwise to write off the Nagrig native.
Scores to settle
Modern-day football is ruled by tactics — but sometimes you cannot beat a good, old fashioned grudge match.
Plenty of Liverpool’s players will feel they want revenge against Real — Salah was just the one to vocalise it.
Speaking before Los Blancos beat Manchester City to reach the final, he said: “I want to play Madrid, I have to be honest.
“City are a really tough team, we played against them a few times this season, but I think if you ask me personally, I would prefer Madrid.
“Because we lost in the final against them, I want to play against them and hopefully win.”
