The Challenge of Winning at the Etihad
While Mohamed Salah often appears to be the driving force behind Liverpool’s victories, his record at the Etihad Stadium tells a different story. Since his arrival at Liverpool in 2017, the Egyptian forward has yet to secure a Premier League win against Manchester City at their home ground. This statistic also applies to his long-standing teammates: Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, and Alisson Becker.
Even Trent Alexander-Arnold was just a young 17-year-old playing in the youth ranks of Liverpool the last time the team triumphed at City in the league—a decisive 4-1 victory on November 21, 2015. This match marked Jurgen Klopp’s inaugural encounter with what would become one of his fiercest rivalries.
In the decade that has followed, Liverpool has celebrated success in both the Champions League and the FA Cup at the Etihad. However, when it comes to league encounters, they have managed to secure only four points from a possible 24.
Decisive Weekend Ahead
As Liverpool prepares for their upcoming match, another draw might be seen as a welcome outcome. The team finds itself in a delicate situation, one that feels crucial in the ongoing Premier League title race. Arsenal, their closest competitors, are poised to gain an advantage with a game in hand over Liverpool. Should the Gunners secure a win against West Ham on Saturday, they could close the gap to just five points.
If Liverpool were to suffer a defeat at the hands of City, Arsenal could potentially reduce the deficit to a mere two points. This scenario creates a multitude of possibilities in the tightly contested race, highlighting the unpredictable nature of football.
Salah’s Stellar Performance
In this pivotal moment, Salah requires support from his teammates. He currently leads the Premier League with an impressive tally of 24 goals and 15 assists, bringing his total goal involvements for the season to an astounding 39. This remarkable performance places him on the brink of achieving an individual milestone in Premier League history.
To put this into perspective, both Andy Cole (1993-94) and Alan Shearer (1994-95) hold the record for the most goal involvements in a single Premier League season, with a total of 47 (34 goals and 13 assists each). Salah is clearly on track to surpass this record, a testament to his exceptional talent and determination.
