London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025

Mohamed Salah scores second wonder goal in as many Premier League games to spoil Claudio Ranieri return

Mohamed Salah scores second wonder goal in as many Premier League games to spoil Claudio Ranieri return

Mohamed Salah scored his second wonderful solo goal in as many Premier League games as Liverpool spoilt Claudio Ranieri's return to management in the UK.

In the 54th minute of Liverpool's comfortable 5-0 win against Watford at Vicarage Road, Salah picked up the ball on the edge of the Watford box with a host of defenders between him and the goal.

Using some delicate footwork and intricate trickery, Salah danced past a couple, faking a shot -- which left a player on the ground -- before curling home into the bottom corner to round off the outstanding goal.

It comes in the game after the Egyptian's excellent solo goal against Manchester City two weeks ago in which he jinked past multiple City defenders before firing his right-foot shot past goalkeeper Ederson.

When asked whether he's scored a better goal before, he said with a smile: "Last game, maybe!"

"I don't know which one is better, this one or the City one. Every time I'm in the box, I'm trying to give the ball to someone to score," he told BT Sport.

His goal is his ninth in his last eight consecutive club games, and it is that form that has people suggesting he might be the favorite for this year's Ballon d'Or award.

And for leading sports scientist Simon Brundish, he believes Salah should be given the award.

"I think if he carries on like this, there's no argument," Brundish said.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp agrees.

"His performance was massive today," the German manager told BT Sport afterward.

"The pass for the first goal was great and the second goal was special. He is top. We all see it. Who is better than him? We don't have to talk about what Messi and Ronaldo have done for world football and their dominance. But right now, he is the best."

Salah celebrates with teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Firmino after scoring against Watford.


Ruining the party


Salah's goal was the crowning moment on what was a comfortable afternoon for Klopp's men -- and a nightmare start for new Watford manager Ranieri.

Sadio Mane got the game off to a perfect start for Liverpool, slotting home with just the keeper to beat after Salah's delightful assist.

Two goals from Roberto Firmino either side of the halftime break really turned the screw on the home team, before Salah scored his excellent goal.

Firmino wrapped up the afternoon, tapping home from close range to complete his hat trick and move Liverpool atop the Premier League table.

Salah scores against Watford.


While it was the perfect return to the Premier League after the international break for Liverpool, it was the opposite for Ranieri.

The Italian was appointed as the new manager of the team on a two-year contract earlier in the month.

The 69-year-old replaced Xisco Munoz at the helm, after the Spaniard was sacked after less than 10 months in the job.

It is Ranieri's first job in the English top-flight since he stunned the footballing world by winning the Premier League with Leicester City in 2015-16.

Ranieri reacts during the Premier League game against Liverpool.


The Italian left Serie A side Sampdoria in the summer, and his appointment at Watford is the 20th club for which he's managed.

However, his side looked all at sea for the most of the game, conceding sloppy goals and lacking little going forward.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Good News: Senate Confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director
Officials from the U.S. and Hungary Engage in Talks on Economic Collaboration and Sanctions Strategy
James Bond Franchise Transitions to Amazon MGM Studios
Technology Giants Ramp Up Lobbying Initiatives Against Strict EU Regulations
Alibaba Exceeds Quarterly Projections Fueled by Growth in Cloud and AI
Tequila Sector Faces Surplus Crisis as Agave Prices Dive Sharply
Residents of Flintshire Mobile Home Park Grapple with Maintenance Issues and Uncertain Future
Ronan Keating Criticizes Irish Justice System Following Fatal Crash Involving His Brother
Gordon Ramsay's Lucky Cat Restaurant Faces Unprecedented Theft
Israeli Family Mourns Loss of Peace Advocate Oded Lifschitz as Body Returned from Gaza
Former UK Defense Chief Calls for Enhanced European Support for Ukraine
Pope Francis Admitted to Hospital in Rome Amid Rising Succession Speculation
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, at the age of 83, Declares His Retirement.
Whistleblower Reveals Whitehall’s Focus on Kabul Animal Airlift Amid Crisis
Politicians Who Deliberately Lie Could Face Removal from Office in Wales
Scottish Labour Faces Challenges Ahead of 2026 Holyrood Elections
Leftwing Activists Less Likely to Work with Political Rivals, Study Finds
Boris Johnson to Host 'An Evening with Boris Johnson' at Edinburgh's Usher Hall
Planned Change in British Citizenship Rules Faces First Legal Challenge
Northumberland Postal Worker Sentenced for Sexual Assaults During Deliveries
British Journalist Missing in Brazil for 11 Days
Tesco Fixes Website Glitch That Disrupted Online Grocery Orders
Amnesty International Critiques UK's Predictive Policing Practices
Burglar Jailed After Falling into Home-Made Trap in Blyth
Sellafield Nuclear Site Exits Special Measures for Physical Security Amid Ongoing Cybersecurity Concerns
Avian Influenza Impact on Seals in Norfolk: Four Deaths Confirmed
First Arrest Under Scotland's Abortion Clinic Buffer Zone Law Amidst International Controversy
Meghan Markle Rebrands Lifestyle Venture as 'As Ever' Ahead of Netflix Series Launch
Inter-Island Ferry Services Between Guernsey and Jersey Set to Expand
Significant Proportion of Cancer Patients in England and Wales Not Receiving Recommended Treatments
Final Consultation Launched for Vyrnwy Frankton Power Line Project
Drug Misuse Deaths in Scotland Rise by 12% in 2023
Failed £100 Million Cocaine Smuggling Operation in the Scottish Highlands
Central Cee Equals MOBO Awards Record; Bashy and Ayra Starr Among Top Honorees
EastEnders: Four Decades of Challenging Social Norms
Jonathan Bailey Channels 'Succession' in Bold Richard II Performance
Northern Ireland's First Astronaut Engages in Rigorous Spacewalk Training
Former Postman Sentenced for Series of Sexual Offences in Northumberland
Record Surge in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes Across the UK in 2024
Omagh Bombing Inquiry Concludes Commemorative Hearings with Survivor Testimonies
UK Government Introduces 'Ronan's Law' to Combat Online Knife Sales to Minors
Metal Detectorists Unearth 15th-Century Coin Hoard in Scottish Borders
Woman Charged in 1978 Death of Five-Year-Old Girl in South London
Expanding Sinkhole in Godstone, Surrey, Forces Evacuations and Road Closures
Bangor University Announces Plans to Cut 200 Jobs Amid £15 Million Savings Target
British Journalist Charlotte Peet Reported Missing in Brazil
UK Inflation Rises to 3% in January Amid Higher Food Prices and School Fees
Starmer Defends Zelensky Amidst Trump's 'Dictator' Allegation
Zelensky Calls on World Leaders to Back Peace Efforts in Light of Strains with Trump
UK Prime minister, Mr. Keir Starmer, has stated that any peace agreement aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine "MUST" include a US security guarantee to deter Russian aggression
×