The wait to break the Premier League’s goal involvement record goes on for Mohamed Salah.
But on his 400th Liverpool appearance, he really should have been celebrating equalling the tally.
Quite how the Egyptian side-footed Cody Gakpo’s low cross wide of an empty net from just yards out in Monday’s defeat at Brighton, no-one really knows. His own wry smile suggested his own disbelief.
Two months ago, he looked set to destroy Premier League records and produce the greatest attacking individual season in the competition’s history.
Salah’s double against Southampton on 8 March took him to 27 goals and 17 assists in 29 matches, just three goal involvements short of the Premier League record of 47, held jointly by Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole.
He also looked certain to beat the record of 20 Premier League assists in a season, jointly held by Arsenal’s Thierry Henry and Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne.
Since then, Salah has recorded just one goal and one assist in eight matches, leaving him still one short of the goal involvement record and two short of the assist record.
After Monday’s missed sitter, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said: “The first thought that goes through my head when I see the ball moving towards Mo, I’m like, ‘It’s quite a big chance, this could lead to a goal’, because that’s what Mo normally does.
“He’s been throughout this season almost inhuman. But there were moments in the season where he was human, so it’s not the first time that he’s not scoring for one or two games in a row.
“But the good thing for us is this hardly ever happens and, if it happens, you can be sure that he will score in the third game or the fourth game.”
After helping Liverpool secure the Premier League title on 27 April, Salah said: “Hopefully I’m going to break [the goal involvements record] soon. It’s something pushing me forward to just keep going and keep working hard.”
With one game to go – the visit of Crystal Palace to Anfield – you still would not bet against him.
