Mohamed Salah versus the Big Six: level with Rooney with Shearer in sight
The Liverpool striker scored from the spot against City and becomes the second top goal scorer against the Premier League’s ‘big six’.
Mohamed Salah has made breaking records a habit for himself during his eight seasons at Liverpool. This weekend was no exception. The Egyptian was on target in this evening’s 2-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield, and with it, moves closer to a new milestone in English football.
No stopping Salah
Salah converted from the penalty spot on 77 minutes to secure all three points for the Reds, who remain top of the Premier League table, nine points clear of their nearest rivals Arsenal and 11 ahead of City.
It also brought up a interesting stat for the 32-year-old who moves into second place behind Alan Shearer as the joint-top scorer against the so-called ‘Big Six’ - the teams considered to be the cream of English football: Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham (of which his own club Liverpool is also a member).
Salah has now scored a total of 45 goals against Big Six clubs, while Shearer remains at the top of the rankings with 56 goals, scored during his time at Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle.
Salah is level with Wayne Rooney who has scored the same number of goals against the Big Six although the Egyptian reached the quota in fewer games - in 276 Premier League games compared to Rooney’s 491 (Shearer reached his tally in 559 games - 441 in the Premier League and 118 in the old First Division.
Premier League top scorers after Week 13
- 12 Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- 11 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- 9 Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest)
- 8 Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea)
- 8 Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford)
- 8 Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- 8 Yoane Wissa (Brentford)
- 7 Matheus Cunha (Wolves)
Salah and Haaland top the Golden Boot ranking
The Liverpool ace, who is on the run after scoring in six consecutive league games, is just one goal behind City’s Erling Haaland in the Premier League ranking.
With three Golden Boot awards already under belt, Salah is now looking a serious candidate for a fourth - a feat only achieved once - by Thierry Henry.
And to prove that its a collective, team effort, Salah is the second player in the league with the most assists - seven, three behind Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
There will be more milestones for Salah this season, that’s for sure.