Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has equalled a Premier League record after his hat-trick heroics in their PL opener against Leeds United, ACLSports reports.
Salah scored two penalties in the seven-goal thriller against the newly promoted Leeds during their season opener at Anfield late Saturday.
The Egyptian’s opener for the Reds in their 4-3 win via the penalty spot was a record-equalling one as he matched Teddy Sherringham’s record of scoring in four successive opening PL fixtures set from the 1992 to 1996 seasons.
Salah, 28, has a knack for scoring in the Reds’ season openers having done so in each of his last three seasons before the penalty against Leeds to make it a fourth.
He added a delicious second which turned out to be the winner for Jurgen Klopp’s men as they survived a serious score from the Sky Bet champions, Leeds.
During an intense encounter between the two teams at Anfield, both teams made defensive blunders at both ends and were duly punished with all the goals scored in an exhilarating opening 45.
Salah struck first inside the first four minutes when he calmly converted from the spot to put the champions ahead. But the lead only last a while as Leeds equalised through a solo goal from Jack Harrison.
Towering center back, Virgil van Dijk restored Liverpool’s lead with a thunderous header eight minutes after Leeds’ leveller before Patrick Bamford once again equalised for the visitors on the half-hour mark.
Three minutes later, Salah grabbed his brace and Liverpool’s third of the game and they held on to close the first half 3-2.
The second half was a keenly contested one but it was Leeds who once again equalised for the third and added to the scoreline with Mateusz Klich joining in on the scoring spree to bring his side level on 3-3.
However, Salah wasn’t done as he completed his hattrick with his second penalty of the match to seal a dramatic win for the defending champions.
He has now netted an incredible 96 goals and provided 41 assists for Liverpool in 154 matches.
