Salah not yet ready to offer right of way to Saka
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game at the Emirates Stadium. Pic: Adam Davy/PA Wire
Just when Bukayo Saka thought he had proved his potential to take Mo Salah’s crown as the Premier League’s most influential goalsoring winger, Liverpool’s experienced Egyptian reminded us he can still have a sizeable impact on this season’s title chase.
On the face it, Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool will be most animatedly celebrated in Manchester, where Pep Guardiola’s City still sit top of the table. But it was a fascinating battle in which both sides showed they are contenders, not least because of the potential for their wide men to influence the game.
Salah, at the age of 32, is nine years older than his rival and knows this may well be his final campaign at Anfied; but his perfectly placed finish, the 163rd goal he has scored in the Premier League, earned Liverpool a deserved point on a day when defensive injuries, including Gabriel and Jurrien Timber hobbling off in the second half, prevented them taking the victory they craved.
There was a sense of frustration in the Arsenal camp as the final whistle blew, but for neutrals it seemed a fair result and one which ensured Liverpool remain unbeaten away from home under Arne Slot.
It didn’t look like it would be so even in the first half when Saka returned from injury to score a stunning goal, firing high into the net after turning Andy Robertson inside out.
Even when Liverpool responded, with a Virgil van Dijk header from a corner, Arsenal regained the lead through unlikely hero Mikel Merino; and the Emirates was rocking with Saka at the heart of everything they did right.
It’s easy to forget the winger is still only 23 years old, not least when you learn that his strike against Liverpool was the 50th Premier League goal of his career already. Only six players have reached that total at a younger age - none of them played for Arsenal.
The fact that he shone when Salah was on the other side, the perfect example of a winger who impacts not only matches but seasons - delivering goals and trophies that any striker would be proud of – made this a fascinating watch. Even if the second half didn’t live up to the drama and quality of the first.
Even so, there may be food for thought for Manchester City, despite their lead at the top of the table.
When Salah struck his crisp equaliser after the break it was his fifth of the season. Compare that to Jack Grealish, who is yet to score this campaign, and Jeremy Doku, who has hit the net just once, and that may be something the two chasers can hang on to.
They certainly need something to keep them believing, because City remain in the driving seat after this result and both sides will have regrets to deal with.
Arsenal visibly wobbled after Gabriel and then Timber went off injured (they were already without suspended centre-back William Saliba and injured full-back Riccardo Calafiori) but Liverpool failed to find the energy required to deliver a winner and the hosts recovered too late to create a decisive finale either.
Saka’s high-energy performance belied the fact he has missed the last two games, and two England matches, through injury, and suggested he will still play a big part in the title race. As did Salah’s display, crowned with a purring finish with nine minutes to go.
The stats say the Liverpool legend has more goal involvements against the Premier League’s top five sides than anyone else over the last few years, which shows the standards that Saka needs to aim for in the longer term.
The youngster at least went home with one record, having reached 50 Premier League goals even faster than club record holder Thierry Henry.
“He has every record here, so that’s nice. I’m happy with that. But you have to win the game,” said Saka.
“I hate missing games through injury and I wanted to do everything possible to get back for this game. So it felt nice to score.
“But we are a bit disappointed. We felt we didn’t show our best selves for the full 90 minutes.”
Perhaps in time the result won’t feel so bad. It keeps both teams in the title race – and underlines that Saka and Salah will have a big part to play in where the trophy ends up.
Saka 23 Salah 32
Saka 4 Salah 5 Saka 50 Salah 163
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