Nunez Inspires Fightback as Salah Hits Landmark | OneFootball

Nunez Sparks Revival as Salah Makes History

Liverpool staged a second-half comeback to secure a crucial 3-1 victory at Anfield, overcoming an early setback against determined opposition. Will Smallbone’s first-half strike had put the visitors ahead, leaving Arne Slot’s side with work to do after the break. However, Darwin Nunez’s impact proved pivotal, first levelling the score before winning a penalty that Mohamed Salah confidently dispatched.

The Egyptian forward sealed the result with a second spot-kick in front of the Kop, marking a significant milestone in his career. His brace saw him move into third place in Liverpool’s all-time scoring charts while also matching Sergio Aguero’s tally of 184 Premier League goals.

Liverpool’s Resilience

Despite securing three points, Salah admitted post-match that Liverpool had not been at their fluent best but praised the squad’s mentality in grinding out the win. The result saw Liverpool extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 16 points, reinforcing their credentials in the title race.

Photo: IMAGO

Hard-Fought Victory

“It was a tough game, they had a good game plan. It worked well first half for them. But I’m glad that we managed to come back in the second half and win the game.”

On Liverpool’s half-time team talk

“A bit of frustration. The manager, his head, was like going for us – but that’s something you need sometimes. Because first half, the game was sloppy, we just were slow and taking our time and in the last minute they managed to [go ahead in] the game. But we are now more experienced, we can manage that situation and I’m glad that we did.”

On whether the performance mirrored that of future champions

“Yeah, because I don’t think we played well today. Maybe second half we played a little bit better, but first half we didn’t play well at all. But if you want to win the Champions League or the Premier League, you have to win those kinds of games.”

Salah Equals Aguero’s Premier League Record

The two-goal display at Anfield saw Salah draw level with Sergio Aguero in the Premier League’s all-time scoring rankings. Reflecting on the milestone, he expressed admiration for the former Manchester City striker while emphasising his focus on winning matches for Liverpool.

“I knew about the record but I didn’t think about it while I was playing. But I know about the record. It’s a good record to be equalising; Sergio is a great player, he was a legend here for the league. So I’m happy about that and I’m happy about the win as well.”

Nunez’s Contribution Vital to Liverpool’s Success

The Uruguayan striker’s involvement proved instrumental in shifting the momentum, a fact not lost on Salah, who highlighted Nunez’s growing influence in Liverpool’s attack.

“Very important. He is a very important player for us. I’m always there talking to him. He is very important, we need him. And you saw him also in the last game against PSG, he was very important when he came in, making a difference. Good for him.”

Liverpool’s ability to overcome adversity and secure maximum points underlined their growing resilience, with Salah and Nunez playing leading roles once again. As the title race intensifies, performances such as this could prove decisive in the pursuit of silverware.