The one moment against Porto that summed up Mo Salah’s importance to Liverpool

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL — For a man whose every touch of the ball seemed to produce good fortune – and a goal – last season, the football life of Mohamed Salah has been accompanied by a healthy dose of reality this.

But, as Liverpool took an important lead in their Champions League quarter-final last night, his status as one of the most beloved Anfield icons, and a key player in Jürgen Klopp’s bid for a first trophy in English football, remained unaltered.

Read more: Liverpool vs Porto player ratings

One moment, after 15 minutes, summed up the Egyptian’s value to the Liverpool cause after a slip by Naby Keita, on the edge of the visitors’ area, presented Porto with a dangerous fast break.

Moussa Marega led the cavalry charge, eventually slipping the ball through to Otavio, only for Salah, who had sprinted from the edge of one area to the other, to make the telling challenge that ended the attack, winning back the ball in the process.

Running down the wing – and back again

Cue another Anfield chorus of, “Mo Salah, running down the wing” and cue a timely reminder of the core values the striker brings to his team, even if his 21 goals to date this season represent a significant downgrade on the astonishing tally of 44 he plundered in the last campaign.

There can be no questioning Salah’s workaholic durability, his willingness to chase every lost cause, or the single-minded “greed” in front of goal which was a blessing last season when goals were flying in from his boot at an almost indecent rate.

But, perhaps, the simple truth is that he is currently suffering a run of bad fortune every bit as spectacular as last season’s good and that his desperate desire to match those dizzy heights means he is trying just a little too hard in front of the opposition goal.

Best result of the night

When a disastrous Otavio back-pass played Salah clean through on goal after 21 minutes, he regained his balance after being clearly tripped by Felipe before rolling his shot wide.

It was an admirable piece of honesty from a player often criticised for going to ground too easily but, had he done so in this case, Porto would have been reduced to 10 men. Instead, another match passed in which Salah looked far more human than a year ago, although the fact is that last season was probably a once-in-a-lifetime aberration and this season the Egyptian has levelled out, even if he could end with a 25-plus goal haul.

Still, luck was with Salah in one respect in proceedings last night when a high, late, studs-up challenge on Danilo’s ankle should have resulted in a red card. That non-decision by Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz may prove to be one of the best results enjoyed by Klopp and Liverpool last night.