How Mohamed Salah of Liverpool Was Inspired to Score Before the AFCON by a Change of Boots

With two goals and a boot change at halftime, Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool defeat Newcastle 4-2 and go three points ahead of the Premier League.

Martin Dubravka had saved the Egyptian’s penalty in the first half of his farewell game before he left to represent his nation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

With a straightforward tap-in for his 150th Premier League goal for the Reds, Salah opened the floodgates for the first of the six goals at Anfield in the second half.

Then, when Jurgen Klopp’s team let free, he contributed to setting up goals for Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo.

Four minutes from time, Salah took charge from the penalty spot once again to seal the victory.

“I just trained with the ones I missed the penalty with yesterday.” I play with a lot of boots, so it’s not superstition, but when I feel like it’s going to stay in my brain, I acquire new boots.

“I prefer not to enter the second half believing that I haven’t scored any goals.” Just shift, clear my head, and concentrate on my game.

Salah said that the idea of heading to the Africa Cup of Nations after failing to score motivated him to play better in the second half.

Because it took until the very end of the game to clinch victory, Salah was not the only player to commit wastefulness in front of goal as Liverpool set a Premier League record with 7.53 anticipated goals.

At halftime, the players gave a speech. We must maintain composure and play football; we have a lot of wasted opportunities, including my own penalty. “After that performance, I wondered if you were going to be called up to the national team,” Salah said.

“I just had to really put my mind to it, take action, and change things, and I succeeded in doing so.”

Salah may potentially be sidelined for Liverpool’s next four Premier League games, which include a pivotal trip to Arsenal in the coming month, contingent on the Pharaohs’ performance in the Ivory Coast.

However, he supported his backup players to ensure Liverpool’s championship challenge continued after his return.

“I’m certain the players will win the games without me. We have excellent players of the highest caliber.

“Anyone may do my duties and play in my position. All people need is to be liberated from the burden of expressing themselves.