The moment Liverpool’s Salah received the Puskás Award for his ‘seventh-best’ goal of the year

On Tuesday, Mohamed Salah officially announced what many Liverpool supporters had anticipated for months: he will be terminating his contract early and departing Anfield on a free transfer at the conclusion of the season.

Salah had signed a new two-year contract with the Reds last summer. However, since then, a decline in performance, a fall in the hierarchy, a public outburst, and a subsequent deterioration in his relationship with head coach Arne Slot have resulted in the Egypt international not receiving as much playing time as he believes he merits.

Since his arrival in 2017, Salah has firmly positioned himself among Liverpool’s all-time greats and will undoubtedly leave as a celebrated figure, irrespective of the current situation.

– Salah will receive a farewell from Liverpool, but his departure leaves a gap to fill
– Liverpool’s ‘greatest’: Mohamed Salah honored by teammates
– Where’s the real Liverpool? Frustrating inconsistency characterizes the season

The 33-year-old has netted 255 goals in 435 matches for the club, placing him third on their all-time scoring list, and has played a crucial role in securing two Premier League titles, domestic cup victories, and the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2018-19.

He has also garnered numerous individual accolades, including three PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards, two Premier League Player of the Season honors, and four Premier League Golden Boots.

Salah was awarded the prestigious Puskás Award during The Best FIFA Award ceremony in 2018, which, unlike many of his extensive collection of awards and trophies, raised some eyebrows globally.

The forward received the Goal of the Year award from world football through an online fan vote for his goal against Everton in December 2017, where he picked up the ball at the edge of the box, maneuvered between two defenders, and curled a stunning finish past the goalkeeper.

While it was indeed a commendable goal, many were perplexed that Salah’s effort was recognized as the most beautiful goal of that year, especially since it was not even his finest goal of the 2017-18 season, nor close to it.

This sentiment was echoed by teammate James Milner, who humorously congratulated his then-Liverpool colleague after the announcement, as Salah’s goal triumphed over competition from Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and several remarkable strikes from the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

“Congrats Mo Salah on your 7th best goal from last season winning goal of the year,” Milner remarked in a social media post that included “#oneofmanyworldies” among various hashtags and emojis.

But was Milner correct? By our assessment, there were at least six Salah goals from his outstanding 2017-18 season that warranted a spot on the Puskás shortlist ahead of his goal in the Merseyside derby. Regardless of whether one agrees with this subjective evaluation, it highlights just how significant a player Salah has been for Liverpool.

1. Nov. 18, 2017 vs. Southampton

Salah netted twice in a 3-0 win against Southampton, including a delightful strike from outside the box. The precise, angled finish bore a resemblance to his goal against Everton but was taken from a slightly greater distance.

2. Nov. 29, 2017 vs. Stoke City

In another dominant 3-0 victory, Salah scored the standout goal of the match when he connected with a lofted cross from Sadio Mané to unleash a powerful volley past the goalkeeper. This impressive finish was actually voted Goal of the Month by Liverpool supporters.

3. Jan. 14, 2018 vs. Manchester City

Liverpool handed Manchester City their first Premier League defeat of the 2017-18 season with a thrilling 4-3 victory at Anfield, which was regarded as the game of the season. The score shifted from 1-1 to 4-1 in just nine frantic minutes, with Salah scoring what turned out to be the decisive goal with an audacious 35-yard lob.

4. Feb. 4, 2018 vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Liverpool and Spurs engaged in another thrilling contest that featured stoppage-time goals from both teams in a dramatic 2-2 draw at Anfield. Salah opened the scoring for the home side before Victor Wanyama equalized with a stunning long-range strike. The Egypt international then appeared to have secured a 91st-minute victory when he maneuvered through a group of four defenders and fired past Hugo Lloris. However, a penalty from Harry Kane in the 96th minute dampened the celebration.

5. March 17, 2018 vs. Watford

Salah scored four goals (and provided an assist) in a 5-0 demolition at Anfield, showcasing one of many brilliant performances for the agile forward that season. His first goal was impressive, the second was smooth, and the third was nearly ingenious as the Reds star somehow evaded a group of defenders before poking an improvised finish past the goalkeeper.

6. April 24, 2018 vs. AS Roma

If you’ll forgive the obvious pun, Salah delivered another stellar performance in Liverpool’s 5-2 rout of his former club in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal. He opened the scoring with his finest goal of the evening, curling a perfect shot beyond the outstretched arm of future teammate Alisson Becker. He then added a second with a delicate finish before providing assists for the Reds’ third and fourth goals of the night.