Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has broken yet another Premier League record in the Reds' 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
The 32-year-old came into the blockbuster battle hoping to build on an unparalleled record of 12 goals and six assists from previous Premier League matches against the 20-time English champions.
No player has contributed to more goals against the Red Devils in the Premier League than Salah, but the Egypt international and his teammates were found wanting for most of the first half.
Arne Slot's men then fell behind to a thunderous Lisandro Martinez opening effort early in the second half, but the Reds' response was instant, as Cody Gakpo curled in a delightful equaliser just seven moments later.
Salah was then gifted a golden opportunity to put Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot after Matthijs de Ligt was penalised for a handball, and unsurprisingly, the ex-Chelsea and Roma man did not pass up that chance.
Salah breaks Luis Suarez Premier League record
The Egyptian king scores for Liverpool! 👑 pic.twitter.com/cYPl8H75PN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 5, 2025
Man United number one Andre Onana dived the right way, but Salah's penalty just had too much power for the Cameroonian, as the Egyptian celebrated his 18th goal of the league season in front of the Kop.
Having also registered 13 assists to this point, Salah has now registered a monumental 31 direct goal contributions in the 2024-25 top-flight campaign, the most of any player in the first 19 games of a Premier League season.
Ex-Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was the former record holder, having managed 30 combined goals and assists in the first 19 matches of the 2013-14 Premier League campaign, 23 of his own and seven assists.
Salah's spot kick was significant for more than one reason, as it also represented his 175th goal in the Premier League, putting him level with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in the all-time charts.
The Reds suffered a crushing title collapse that year, but they remain six points clear of Arsenal - who have played a game more - at the top of the Premier League table, even if Sunday's result was a rare low under Slot.
Following Salah's leveller, Amad Diallo unexpectedly met Alejandro Garnacho's low cross to salvage a point for Ruben Amorim's team, who would have stolen all three points right at the death had Harry Maguire not blazed an injury-time strike over the bar with the goal gaping.
Virgil van Dijk: 'Man United draw could have been a lot worse'
31 - Mo Salah has 18 goals and 13 assists in 19 Premier League games this season, the most goal involvements ever by a player in their first 19 appearances of a campaign in the competition, overtaking Luis Suárez's 30 in 2013-14 (23 goals, 7 assists). Throne. pic.twitter.com/QpNVAnD7DN
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 5, 2025
The significance of that miss was not lost on Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who conceded that the result could have ended up "a lot worse" for his side had Maguire kept his effort down.
"It could have been a lot worse if we are absolutely honest with ourselves," the Dutchman told BBC Radio 5 Live. "They had a big chance in the end that could have been a lot worse than where we are now. I'm definitely disappointed with dropping points at home but it is what is and we have to move on and we will."
Asked whether his side were guilty of underestimating Man United given their lowly place in the Premier League table, Van Dijk dismissed that notion, adding: "That's all the media. Media talk. It's nothing to do with us. We prepared for a very tough game like we have seen today. We didn't think any of that."
Both camps expressed disappointment with the full-time result, as Man United skipper Bruno Fernandes also made his feelings clear after Maguire's astonishing late miss.
Liverpool now turn their attention to Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Tottenham Hotspur, which precedes their FA Cup third-round clash at home to Accrington Stanley next Saturday.
Ben Knapton
