Mohamed Salah can surely be hailed as the undisputed king of Egyptian football. However, his fandom around Anfield is no less. The reaction of Liverpool fans to Salah’s recent performance for the club surely serves as a piece of evidence.
Liverpool hosted the Australian side LASK in the Europa League Championship on Friday. With a 6-0 result, it was a walk in the park for the team in red. LASK couldn’t deal with Salah’s pace and trickery all night as he displayed an eye-catching game performance against the Australian side. He even netted a penalty for Liverpool in the game.
This has brought Salah’s total goal tally up to 199 for the red shirt and the fans couldn’t keep their calm. During the game, the Red Devils were captured hurling celebratory chants for their right winger and they seem to love it. The lyrics goes:
“Mohamed Salah, a gift from Allah.
He came from Roma to Liverpool.
He’s always scoring, it’s almost boring.
So please don’t take Mohamed away.”
This chant was inspired by the tune of the famous song by Johnny Cash- ‘You Are My Sunshine’ released in 2003. However, this is not the first time this particular chant was heard directed at the Egyptian.
This chant surfaced on the internet for the 1st time in 2018. A 5-year-old video captured that very song being sung in a packed pub in the city of Rome just before the semi-final of the European Champions League. Mohamed Salah scored twice in the semi-final home fixture to secure a place in the Champions League Final for Liverpool after 12 years.
The video gained widespread attention online and for good reasons. Mohamed Salah’s commitment, hard work, humility, and authenticity have earned him a special place in the hearts of all Liverpool supporters alike. Despite years of racism and anti-Muslim sentiment, Salah’s religious acceptance among fans was evident.
He was embraced as one of their own by Liverpool supporters, demonstrating a complete embrace of the Arab-Muslim player. This occurred despite England’s political climate which is marked by contentious discussions about immigration, national identity, and rising hostility towards Muslims.
Mohamed Salah has also reciprocated this kind of support from fans. Since his arrival at Anfield from AS Roma in 2017 for £37 million, the Egyptian superstar has gone from strength to strength. For the 324 games he played in the red shirt, he has secured impressive statistics of 199 goals and 84 assists. Since then he has been a pivotal part of Klopp’s attack.
Salah has played an influential role in Liverpool’s victories in the Champions League in 2018/19. He also guided the Red Devils to their Premier League title after 30 years in 2019/20. Salah was also awarded 2 times African Footballer of the Year in EPL in 2017 and 2018. Salah was quick to transcend from being a talented player to becoming an icon for Liverpool. He is celebrated not just for his prowess on the field but also for his influence off of it.
This is not the only chant that has been dedicated to Salah. Among the most common of the Salah songs is the one named- The Egyptian King. Based on James’ “Sit Down”, the song was first chanted at pubs around Anfield after their 4-3 win over Manchester City in January 2018. The lyrics goes-
“Mo Salah! Mo Salah! Mo Salah! Running down the wing.
“Mo Salah la-la-la la-ahh, The Egyptian King!”
Liverpool fans have yet another renowned chant for Salah. It is a parody set to the tune of Dodgy’s 1996 hit ‘Good Enough.’ Has also been widely dedicated for the winger. The lyrics goes-
“Mo Salah-la la la la la.
“If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me.
“If he scores another few then I’ll be Muslim too.
“If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me,
“He’s sitting in a mosque, that’s where I want to be.”
Chants like these have frequently echoed the Anfield. The Egyptian king has also responded to these chants. Salah has responded warmly on Twitter and recently told Sky Sports, “I am happy to hear [the songs] every game and feel the love of the fans. I am happy about everything right now.”
In essence, Mohamed Salah’s impact extends far beyond the goals he scores. This is not the 1st time a chant has been dedicated to a footballer. But three songs for a single footballer is surely something unprecedented. This just goes on to showcase Liverpool’s love for the Egyptian footballer. It is evidence of his influence and the profound respect he has earned.
As Mohamed Salah continues to shine on the pitch, his legacy at Liverpool extends beyond footballing accomplishments. The Egyptian King has not just conquered Anfield but has won the hearts of Liverpool fans worldwide. With more goals to come, he has already earned his seat among the legends of the club.
Featured Image Source: Twitter