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Liverpool’s Europa League job is done, but Mohamed Salah remains agonisingly short of a key milestone
Liverpool’s Europa League job is done, but Mohamed Salah remains agonisingly short of a key milestone
Only one to go now. Mohamed Salah is a goal away from becoming the fifth player to score 200 for Liverpool. The Egyptian showed few signs he finds the 190s nervous, driving in a penalty to reach 199 as he captained Liverpool at Anfield for the first time. Jurgen Klopp delayed another kind of celebration, taking off Salah with 35 minutes remaining and the opportunity to bring up his landmark against an outclassed LASK side. It may simply prove a case of postponing the inevitable. Salah has 13 goals for the season, seven of them in his last five outings at Anfield, and Sunday’s match against Fulham could see him join Ian Rush, Roger Hunt, Gordon Hodgson and Billy Liddell in a select group. In the list of Salah’s achievements, qualifying from a Europa League pool ranks fairly lowly but victory over LASK ensures there will be European football on Merseyside in 2024. With Toulouse being held by Union Saint-Gilloise, Liverpool won the group to spare themselves a play-off round against a team that drops out of the Champions League. While they head straight for the last 16, the immediate benefit is next month’s game in Brussels becomes meaningless. And, as it is three days before they face Manchester United, Klopp could leave several regulars at home. So defeat in Toulouse did not come at a cost. This result was not in doubt after a quarter of an hour, progress clinched by Salah’s spot kick early in the second half. It all felt predictable, Liverpool taking their return on home soil this season to 10 wins out of 10. But there was a twist on a familiar theme. Many a victory in the Klopp years has seen each of his forward trio on the scoresheet and if this is not the classic Liverpool front three – not with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino in the distinctly warmer climes of Saudi Arabia these days – a different group were on the scoresheet together. They dovetailed beautifully, too, for the second goal, Luis Diaz and Salah setting up Cody Gakpo. If Liverpool’s attackers have been sufficiently prolific that none exactly needed a goal, Diaz and Gakpo were outscored by the other three. Diaz got his fifth of the campaign, Gakpo’s brace took him to six and each was a terrific goal. First Diaz plunged to head in Joe Gomez’s volleyed cross. The Colombian had scored in the reverse fixture, too, and as LASK left him unmarked, it felt too easy. Then came a combination of the attacking trident. Diaz fed an overlapping Salah whose cross was so inviting that Gakpo had a tap-in. The Dutchman turned provider in a way for Salah’s strike: his burst into the box was interrupted when he was upended by the goalkeeper Tobias Lawal. Salah struck the penalty with sufficient force that the goalkeeper did not dive. He departed soon after but it was typical of his hunger that he played: if Europa League campaigns can afford chances to rest players more accustomed to Champions League finals, Salah is an ever present, either as a starter or a substitute. With Liverpool’s pace and movement too much for LASK, a fourth goal could have arrived before injury time, when the substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold picked out Gakpo with an incisive pass and he powered a shot in. As he had struck the post earlier, it was almost a first Liverpool hat-trick. Kostas Tsimikas, who rattled the bar with a thunderbolt, was also thwarted by the upright. There were a host of other opportunities. Gakpo skewed a shot wide. Diaz skied one after being released by Gomez, with a ball over the visitors’ defence. Able to venture forward from right-back, Gomez sought a belated first goal of his career and drilled a shot just wide. The overworked Lawal denied Harvey Elliott and the substitute Darwin Nunez. Liverpool were sufficiently open that, with a better final ball and a finer appreciation of the offside law, LASK could have had more chances. As it was, Marin Ljubicic skied a shot and Ibrahim Mustapha was denied by Caoimhin Kelleher. It was one of three fine late saves by the Irishman, starting his spell standing in for the injured Alisson; if Liverpool kept him too occupied, it may help him. LASK’s vocal, scarf-twirling fans did not have a goal to cheer but enjoyed the night, however. Liverpool’s three home games have been a reminder that, for clubs who rarely qualify for the Champions League and who are unaccustomed to visiting Anfield, such matches are special. For Salah, however, the special occasion may come on Sunday if he enters the 200 club. Read More Liverpool, Brighton and West Ham all reach the Europa League knockout stages Mohamed Salah ‘a completely different animal’ for Liverpool before Man City clash Joao Pedro penalty sends Brighton through to Europa League knockout stages
2023-12-01 06:57
League of Legends Honor Recall VFX Changes in Patch 12.10
League of Legends Honor Recall VFX Changes in Patch 12.10
In the new League of Legends Patch 12.10, some changes were made to the Honor Recall VFX, changes that were not available before, and are available to certain players.
1970-01-01 08:00
Maguire can handle 'pressure' from mocking rival fans
Maguire can handle 'pressure' from mocking rival fans
Harry Maguire said he can cope with the pressure of being in the spotlight for club and country after England manager Gareth Southgate condemned the "ridiculous...
2023-09-14 17:35
Blinken highlights the human toll of Ukraine war as Biden admin seeks to maintain support for Kyiv in Washington
Blinken highlights the human toll of Ukraine war as Biden admin seeks to maintain support for Kyiv in Washington
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken opened his remarks at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday recounting his recent trip to Yahidne -- a Ukrainian town roughly two hours north of Kyiv that had been occupied by Russian soldiers.
2023-09-21 04:39
Oil prices steady as focus returns to supply outlook
Oil prices steady as focus returns to supply outlook
By Paul Carsten LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices held steady on Monday after suffering losses at the end of last week,
2023-10-02 16:10
Gurbaz powers Afghanistan to 142-run win over Bangladesh
Gurbaz powers Afghanistan to 142-run win over Bangladesh
Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran both scored hundreds as Afghanistan crushed Bangladesh by 142 runs on Saturday to seal...
2023-07-09 00:43
Kendall Jenner sees long-term future with Bad Bunny as they 'complement each other'
Kendall Jenner sees long-term future with Bad Bunny as they 'complement each other'
Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny first sparked romance rumors in February when they were spotted having dinner at Wally’s in Beverly Hills
1970-01-01 08:00
McCarthy ‘Blindsided’ as Hard-Liners’ Blockade Enters Second Day
McCarthy ‘Blindsided’ as Hard-Liners’ Blockade Enters Second Day
A blockade against legislation by House Republican hard-liners dragged on for a second day Wednesday, underscoring a rift
2023-06-08 03:06
California Gov. assures his state is always a partner on climate change as he begins trip to China
California Gov. assures his state is always a partner on climate change as he begins trip to China
The Governor of California Gavin Newsom has assured during his week-long trip to China that his state will always be a partner on climate issues no matter how the U.S. presidential election turns out next year
2023-10-23 20:52
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter visit Georgia festival ahead of former president's 99th birthday, Carter Center says
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter visit Georgia festival ahead of former president's 99th birthday, Carter Center says
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, were seen Saturday morning taking a ride through the Plains Peanut Festival in Plains, Georgia, the Carter Center said in a social media post.
2023-09-24 02:51
Skip Bayless Rendered Speechless By Dallas Cowboys Loss in Horrifying Video
Skip Bayless Rendered Speechless By Dallas Cowboys Loss in Horrifying Video
Skip Bayless posted a 26-second video featuring his face and silence.
2023-09-25 08:21
Why Do Dogs Howl at Sirens?
Why Do Dogs Howl at Sirens?
Don't worry: It's not because sirens hurt dogs’ sensitive ears.
2023-11-29 06:21