Manchester City dominated England last season and won the Premier League title with relative ease. But others got inspired and challenged at the same time. Ready to give a better fight this time around, Londoners Chelsea and Arsenal made changes in the dugout while Liverpool broke transfer records.
So far, it’s proving to be decisions well made. The trio has put up a stiffer competition this time around and Tottenham has refused to be left behind. Despite making no signings in the summer, Mauricio Pochettino is getting the best from his talented squad and is achieving more than many expected from the side this season already. But it is Liverpool that has stolen the show. And that is due mostly to the contributions of the team’s talisman and the reigning PFA Player of the Year – Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian blew everyone away with a monstrous performance scoring goals like a man out of control last term. His goals helped Liverpool finish in the top four and reach the Champions League final. Getting injured early in the game prevented him from doing what he knows how to do best. But he has put the disappointment behind him this season.
The 26-year-old is on top of the Premier League scoring charts with 10 goals to his name in 17 league outings. A hat-trick against Bournemouth earlier in the month has been the highlight of the campaign in the Premier League but that pales in comparison to the ecstasy that greeted his winning goal against Napoli that secured qualification to the next round of the Champions League.
Having started the season with just two goals in the competition in six games, his recent goal-scoring form comes at the right time for the club. It has helped continue a 17-game unbeaten start to the season, the best ever in the club’s history and a place at the top of the table. Recent wins against Everton in the Merseyside derby, Burnley, Bournemouth and Manchester United have come at a time when defending champions and favorites Manchester City suffered a first league defeat of the campaign against Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea.
That opened the door for Liverpool to take top spot. And from the look of things, the Reds are not ready to let go. The latest performance against Man United says that much. The team is fired up and ready for anything. From Salah to Sadio Mane, to Roberto Firmino and Xerdan Shaqiri, the front men are ready to do whatever it takes. Midfielders Fabinho and Naby Keita have finally settled in while Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker have been nothing short of inspirational at the back.
Salah for one will be relishing the opportunity to replicate last season’s heroics. The reward of having a real chance to win the league title this time around is enough motivation to give his best moving forward. That is a welcome development for manager Jurgen Klopp who is still looking for his first piece of silverware as a Liverpool manager.
The club itself has also not won the Premier League since it was reformed in 1992 despite having come close a couple of times. But the German manager has rekindled belief among the club faithful the wait will soon be over. In Salah, he has the man that can help him make that dream come true.
