When Mohamed Salah was linked with a move to the rising Saudi Pro League in the dying embers of the summer transfer window, Everton fans would have been praying to finally see the back of the man affectionately known by their cross-city rivals as the ‘Egyptian King’.
The Toffees’ supporters weren’t the only ones wishing Salah would move on to pastures new this summer in all fairness, as the 31-year-old has terrorised Premier League defences for the best part of six years.
But he has often proven to be a thorn in the side of Everton when Merseyside derbies come around, and Salah will be looking to add to his tally of five goals and one assist in nine Premier League appearances against the Toffees on October 21.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are the heavy favourites in the Liverpool v Everton odds, despite the fact they are going into the game without a win in their last two games, and there’s no doubt Salah will be well-backed to get on the scoresheet after scoring five times in eight league appearances this season.
So, as we start the countdown to kick-off, let’s look at some of Salah’s best moments against Everton.
2017: Salah’s Puskas Award-winning goal
This Merseyside derby at Anfield in December 2017 isn’t one that’s largely remembered for the result, as it finished 1-1 on what was a wintery afternoon in Liverpool. It simply keeps popping up on lists like this because of Salah’s stunning solo effort to open the scoring.
The Egyptian received the ball on the edge of the area and spun past his marker before beating another Everton defender and curling his shot into the far top corner as half-time loomed. Wayne Rooney’s second-half penalty denied Liverpool all three points, but Salah’s effort went on to win the prestigious Puskas Award.
Related: Eguavoen: How We ‘Tamed’ Mohamed Salah
2021: Salah nets a brace in a 4-1 win
In January 2021, Liverpool inflicted their biggest victory over Everton at Goodison Park in almost 40 years as they beat the Toffees 4-1 in the blue half of Merseyside — and Salah played a leading role as he bagged a brace to put Everton to the sword.
Having scored the opener just nine minutes in, Jordan Henderson turned provider when playing Salah in behind the host’s defence. The forward was one-on-one with Jordan Pickford and defied a tight angle to fire past the England keeper with his left foot.
Demarai Gray pulled one back for Everton before the break, but Salah restored Liverpool’s two-goal advantage when he ripped the ball away from Seamus Coleman. He raced away from the Irishman and through on goal before sliding another shot past Pickford. Diogo Jota made it four.
2023: Salah helps Liverpool get out of a rut
There were contrasting storylines between these two sides going into their most recent meeting at Anfield back in February. Liverpool had failed to win any of their last four games and suffered defeats against Brentford, Brighton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Everton had just beaten league leaders Arsenal in new manager Sean Dyche’s first game in charge.
That must have given the Toffees hope that they could record another famous win at Anfield, and James Tarkowski went agonisingly close to giving Everton the lead when he struck the post from a header. That set up the counterattack, however, with Darwin Nunez speeding off before squaring it to Salah — who was left with a simple finish due to Pickford’s positioning.
Cody Gakpo scored his first goal in a Liverpool shirt when making it 2-0 to the Reds in the second half, and that’s how the scoreline stayed for the rest of the match.
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