With a radiant smile, Mohamed Salah appeared on billboards at Anfield and received enthusiastic applause from a large number of fans.
The 33-year-old striker just helped Liverpool take a 2-0 lead in the opening Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, after assisting Andy Robertson to score just a few minutes earlier. On the night of his debut as record signing Alexander Isak, the Egyptian striker sent a strong message.
The match against Atletico Madrid marked a special milestone when Salah became the only player in Champions League history to both score and assist in the first 6 minutes of a match for an English team. Although not the most outstanding statistic in the huge collection of achievements, it once again affirms the popularity and durability of this star.
When the final whistle blew, another star in Liverpool's defense - captain Virgil van Dijk - became a hero with the decisive header in the 92nd minute. Before that, Marcos Llorente scored a double to equalize for Atletico.
This goal extended The Kop's late scoring habit. In all 5 official matches this season, they have scored the decisive goal in the last 10 minutes.
For Isak, who had to leave the field in the 58th minute, this was an unforgettable debut at Anfield. Before the match, every title was questioned about whether the Swedish striker was fit enough to start. He was previously absent from the starting line-up for the game against Burnley.
All eyes were on Isak when the starting lineup was announced and he was confirmed to start in a disciplined collective match against Diego Simeone. The £125m signing could not score in his Champions League debut against Liverpool, but just having him on the pitch was enough to make the atmosphere at Anfield explode.
After a turbulent summer with many changes to the squad, Salah is expected to continue to be Liverpool's mainstay. Despite a somewhat slow start to the season and being criticized for his lack of cohesion with his new teammates, the Egyptian striker has promptly proven his worth.
After the decisive goal against Burnley in the Premier League, Salah continued to shine in the Champions League with an explosive performance against Atletico Madrid. He scores, assists and constantly makes a difference, showing that he is still an irreplaceable factor in the system of Arne Slot.
Salah almost ended the match with a double when he had a clear chance in the second half, but his dangerous shot found the post. This was a regrettable miss, but it further reinforced that the 33-year-old striker often put himself in the right position to decide the game.
"There will be games where we take a 2-0 lead after just 6 minutes and create countless opportunities, to the point where we don't have to wait until the extra minute to find the decisive goal.
But there are also games where we have to rely on the late moment, and sometimes that goal doesn't come. What I can guarantee is that, under any circumstances, Liverpool will fight to the end. That is the spirit of this team" - Arne Slot said.
Of course, skeptics have reason to believe that Liverpool will find it difficult to maintain their last-minute winning habit. Statistics show that The Kop have equalized three times after leading 2-0 this season.
If they do not quickly overcome the ability to finish the match, Arne Slot's team may have to pay the price at key moments.
However, Liverpool's winning machine is still operating smoothly at the moment. And although Isak needs more time to prove the £ 125 million fee, the two leaders Salah and Van Dijk will still know how to affirm their worth.
