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LONDON: Mohamed Salah’s hat-trick on opening day not only gave Liverpool a thrilling 4-3 win over Leeds United at Anfield on Saturday, but set the standard for other Arab stars such as Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech and Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City. continue for the remainder of the English Premier League season.
Salah’s three goals meant he became the second-fastest player in the competition’s history to reach 50 goals at home, with only Alan Shearer making his half-century faster; needing 47 games against the Egyptian’s 63. Salah also became the first player to score in the opening game of four consecutive Premier League seasons while playing for the same club.
“He is a very special player, a very, very special player,” Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said with relief. “He put three more goals on his goal list, but the performance was absolutely exceptional in a match like this. It caused massive problems for the opponent. With all the good performances Mo had for us, obviously, this was undoubtedly one of the best. Let it continue for a long time. “
Will. In addition to his German boss, English Premier League fans around the world have grown used to Salah’s brilliance and consistency, but now is the time for Ziyech to show what he can do at Chelsea, once the extreme recovers in one hit.
It may be difficult for Ziyech, or anyone else, to match Salah’s feats in England, but the Moroccan’s first goal must be to do something that even the Egyptian could not do: succeed at Chelsea.
Salah joined the London squad from Swiss FC Basel in January 2014 and made just 13 Premier League appearances with the Blues before moving to Fiorentina in Italy on loan just 13 months later.
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However, Ziyech has already impressed at Stamford Bridge. He shone for Dutch side Ajax during last season’s UEFA Champions League draw 4-4, convincing Chelsea manager Frank Lampard that he had the quality to perform in England.
In February, he agreed to travel to London at the end of the season in a deal that was reportedly worth around $ 50 million. Ziyech may miss Chelsea’s opening game against Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday, but he is expected to participate soon.
Like most players coming out of Ajax, the Moroccan loves to attack. “He has the ability to make and score goals,” Lampard said. “He has the quality that we have sometimes missed in the final pass and also in the opportunities. Check a lot of boxes. “
Chelsea have been the biggest spenders in Europe so far this summer, and there is pressure on the team, which finished fourth last season, to mount a serious challenge for the title.
If Ziyech can inspire the Blues to the championship, then England’s top three Arab players will have a winner’s medal.
Salah helped Liverpool win the title last season, while Algeria’s biggest star Mahrez is one of a select group of players who won the Premier League with two different clubs – Leicester City in 2016 and Manchester City three years. after.
The winger was one of the best of last season for Pep Guardiola. But despite 11 goals and nine assists, Mahrez and the star-studded squad had to watch a dominant Liverpool take the trophy.
It means that City is hungrier than ever this time.
The Algerian preseason has been interesting. In early September, the 29-year-old tested positive for coronavirus and is currently self-isolating. Not only that, but he has been linked to a signing by the Spanish champion, Real Madrid.
City will not want to lose one of the best attacking talents in the league. Salah has also been linked to Barcelona, and Liverpool will fight hard to prevent any move from the Egyptian.
The early action of the 2020-21 English Premier League season shows they need it.
Leeds have shown that of the promoted teams they are the least likely to sit down and lie down. Arsenal got off to a strong start with a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham, while Newcastle United achieved a valuable 2-0 win at West Ham United.
On Sunday, Mahrez’s former attacking partner Jamie Vardy scored twice when Leicester defeated West Bromwich Albion 3-0, while Tottenham Hotspur lost 1-0 at home to Everton, thanks to a goal in the second. part of Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
However, the first weekend belonged to Salah, and it leaves the likes of Mahrez and Ziyech with a lot to accomplish.
