Liverpool Pays Tribute to Salah: He delivered on his promise from day one

Beijing time (CEST) on May 25th, Liverpool officially published an article bidding farewell to the legendary Egyptian striker, Salah, who is set to depart.

Salah undoubtedly delivered on the promise he made on his first day at Liverpool, when, at 25 years old, he stated: "I will give 100 percent and dedicate everything to the club."

Keeping a promise is one thing, but what he did in the subsequent nine years is another; he arrived with the ambition to prove himself, and now leaves Anfield, having crafted a legendary story almost unmatched.

He helped the team achieve success, which alone is enough to cement his place in history, but more importantly, his individual statistics also make him one of the best players to have worn this shirt; greatness was always before our eyes, and we derived immense joy from it.

Where to begin?

With 442 appearances, 257 goals, and 120 assists, only two players – Ian Rush and Roger Hunt – have scored more goals for Liverpool than he has. He is also the Reds' all-time leading scorer and assister in the Premier League.

The title of "serial winner" might not fully describe him; during his time at Liverpool, he won 2 league titles, 1 Champions League title, 1 Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FA Cup, and 2 League Cups.

In addition, he has won 3 PFA Player of the Year awards and 3 FWA Player of the Year awards. This seemingly endless desire to strive for the best – both individually and as a team – grew season after season.

After a difficult spell at Chelsea, he returned to England for his second stint and made the aforementioned promise. He joined from Roma in June 2017, having been revitalized and significantly improved his skills, which he quickly demonstrated.

His debut goal at Watford was one of his 44 goals in his first season at Liverpool, a number that set the club's second-highest record.

His 19th goal of that season – a solo effort against Everton – won the 2018 Puskas Award and helped him claim his first Premier League Golden Boot (an award he has won 4 times in total).

By then, the world-renowned attacking trio of Salah, Firmino, and Mane had formed, perfectly combining speed, skill, relentless pressing, and precise attacking methods.

The three forwards led Liverpool to the 2018 Champions League final, but Salah had to leave early due to injury, and the team subsequently lost 1-3 to Real Madrid.

However, progress has been a constant theme in his story during his time at the Reds; he prides himself on continually adding layers to his skill set with an elite mentality.

The painful experience of being forced off in Kyiv made him a stronger player – both mentally and physically – and he returned in the 2018-19 season to exact his revenge.

Despite accumulating 97 points, Liverpool unexpectedly missed out on the league title but reached the Champions League final again. Salah scored a penalty in just the second minute, setting the stage for Liverpool to bring their 6th European Cup trophy back to Anfield.

Salah mentioned Liverpool's long wait for a top-flight title in his first interview, and he helped the team end that 30-year wait in the 2019-20 season.

He set such a high standard that his total of 23 goals that season was his second-lowest goal tally in his Liverpool career, but it included that famous winning goal, which truly made the Anfield faithful believe Liverpool would win.

The path to defending the title was challenging for many reasons, but Salah vowed on social media to "fight like champions until the last moment." Ultimately, Klopp's team staged a late-season surge to finish third in the table, something that was once considered impossible.

Salah was a leader in the dressing room, setting an example, while his creativity also improved, elevating his game to a whole new level.

In the 2021-22 season, he pursued a quadruple, winning the Premier League Golden Boot again and, for the first time, the Playmaker of the Season award (given to the player with the most assists).

By then, he was an all-around forward with truly genius footwork, delivering unforgettable individual performances against Manchester City and Watford.

The following season, Salah scored a brace in Liverpool's 7-0 rout of Manchester United – United being his favorite opponent, and another reason why Liverpool fans love him so much.

His goal tally surpassed the great Robbie Fowler, making him Liverpool's top Premier League scorer. Salah equaled Fowler's record of 128 goals in 61 fewer games than Fowler.

Klopp's era concluded with Salah leading the team in both goals and assists (joint-leader) in the 2023-24 season.

In the 2024-25 season, with Slot taking over, Salah delivered one of his best individual seasons. From March onwards, Gordon Hodgson was no longer Liverpool's third-highest goal scorer in history.

Salah was involved in 57 goals (34 goals, 23 assists) in 52 appearances and ultimately lifted the Premier League trophy for the second time, but this time in front of the fans. After winning, he wrote on social media: "This is what we most wanted to bring to our fans."

In his final season at Liverpool, he became the player with the most goal involvements for a single club in the Premier League and the first African player to score 50 goals in the Champions League.

On March 24th, Salah announced the end of his glorious Liverpool career, telling fans: "Leaving is never easy. You gave me the best years of my life. I will always be one of you."

Consequently, tributes poured in from all corners of the football world, honoring this true football master, and rightly so.

"The greatest," "the best person," "King," "Legend" – these are the words used by his peers to describe him.

It all culminated on Sunday at Anfield with a moving farewell ceremony, where the Egyptian King was celebrated as he deserved.

He truly gave his all.

Thank you, Mo.