Liverpool analysis - Mohamed Salah change pays off as replacement dilemma complicated
Salah change pays off
There was no way Mohamed Salah was going to say goodbye to Liverpool in such miserable fashion.
The stage was set for the Egyptian to make a goalscoring departure before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations when Luis Diaz was fouled by Sven Botman midway through the first half, only for Salah to lose the battle of wits with Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who saved diving to his left.
The winger was momentarily floored. But, one half-time change of boots later, Salah was transformed, tapping in Darwin Nunez’s low cross to open the scoring and net his 150th Premier League goal for Liverpool, only the fifth player to achieve such a feat.
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It was 151 before the end when, afforded another chance from the spot, he made no mistake, while in between came a sumptuous cross from the outside of his left foot from the right flank for Cody Gakpo to score. To think there are those who don’t believe Salah remains Liverpool’s most important player.
Wataru Endo, meanwhile, was also bidding farewell, his performance meriting the rapturous applause that greeted his departure with 15 minutes remaining following another hard-working, influential outing.
Liverpool will miss the pair. The challenge now is to ensure everything is to play for when they return.
Jones underlines claim
When, back in April, Liverpool made the tactical switch that kickstarted their latest iteration under Jurgen Klopp, it coincided with the return to fitness of Curtis Jones after a frustrating, injury-hampered campaign.
He was an ever-present for the remainder of
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