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Football

26th Jul 2018

Mo Salah caused havoc in his first six minutes against Manchester City yesterday

Patrick McCarry

Picking up right where he left off.

Mo Salah is back and scoring goals. Sadio Mané is also back, and also scoring goals.

Liverpool defeated Manchester City 2-1 in the International Champions Cup (that fancy-sounding crop of pre-season fixtures) and two of their returning stars made an impact.

Leroy Sané opened the scoring for City before Jurgen Klopp injected some attacking bite to his side. On came Salah – scorer of 44 goals for the club last season – and he caused chaos with his pace, direct running and eagerness.

Within six minutes of his introduction, the Egyptian had scored, hit the crossbar and had another effort cleared off the line.

There were few signs of the shoulder issues Salah brought with him into the World Cup after his Champions League final dislocation after tangling with Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos.

Salah’s first touch saw him get the ball at the edge of the City box. He swept the ball out to Rafa Camacho on the right wing and, when the cross came, he timed his run perfectly to bury a header past Joe Hart.

It was Salah that chipped a ball into the box, in injury time, in a move that led to Liverpool’s winning penalty.

Dominic Solanke got to the ball first but was crudely bundled over and the Reds had a spot-kick, on 94 minutes to settle it. Mané stepped up and made no mistake.

Up next for the victors, a Saturday clash with Manchester United in the next round of I.C.C games.