Andy Robertson, on his return to the starting XI, had the crowd bouncing when he bundled Salah’s teasing free-kick into the net early doors. And just as the celebrations began to simmer, Liverpool struck again. The Egyptian superstar latched onto Ryan Gravenberch’s clever pass, danced through a thicket of Atletico defenders, and dispatched a delicious finish beyond the despairing reach of Jan Oblak.
It wasn’t just another goal for the scrapbook. With that strike, and the earlier assist for Robertson, Salah carved his name into Champions League folklore. He became the first player in history to register both a goal and an assist inside the first six minutes of a Champions League tie for an English club.
But Salah wasn’t finished there. His appearance against Atletico marked his 74th outing in Europe’s elite competition wearing Liverpool red, lifting him above club legend Steven Gerrard on the all-time list. Only Jamie Carragher, at 80, stands in his way now. With the Reds’ European adventure set to stretch deep into the campaign, it’s only a matter of time before Salah claims that record outright too. And then there’s the matter of another staggering milestone. His strike against Atletico was his 250th goal in English football, a tally that includes his brief Chelsea stint (two goals) before his Anfield reign began.
As Liverpool bask in their Champions League triumph, there’s little time to rest. The Merseyside derby is next, with Everton arriving at Anfield on Saturday. Buoyed by his history-making exploits, Salah will be desperate to torment the Toffees and extend his glittering tally further.
