John Barnes told Premier League Productions he understands why Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah would not be able to remember his goal against Manchester City in Sunday’s draw.
Salah suggested after the clash he could not recall how he weaved his way through the Citizens’ backline to score. The Egyptian beat player after player with a bamboozling run before firing an unstoppable strike into the far post.
No Manchester City player could lay a glove on Salah as the Liverpool forward shook off their attempted tackles. The 29-year-old has now scored in his last five-straight Premier League appearances for nine in nine in all competitions.
Barnes likens Salah’s goal to an out-of-body experience, with the Liverpool winger unaware of how he toyed with Manchester City. While adding that Sunday’s goal – his 101st in the top-flight for the Anfield outfit – was one of the £200k-a-week star’s best yet for the Reds.
“I think so, and particularly in the game of this magnitude,” Barnes said. “But it’s interesting, his comment that he can’t remember it and he has to see it again. Which I completely understand.
“When you score a goal like that, you’re really just reacting to people in front of you. You’re not really thinking about what you’re doing. You’re just acting instinctively; you’re not really thinking about it.
“So when he sees it back, it’s like having an out-of-body experience you won’t remember. So as much as people are going to say, ‘he must know what he did’, I completely empathise with what he said.”
Salah goal vs Manchester City one to remember, even if Liverpool star could not
Salah’s goal is one Liverpool supporters will remember, even if their star forward could not straight after, as Barnes understands. The strike was worthy of winning any game, let alone a potential title six-pointer, but for Kevin de Bruyne’s equaliser.
If the title race goes down to the wire between the Reds and Citizens, Salah’s performance will also be remembered. He pulled the strings as the Anfield natives upped the ante in the second-half, having laboured before the break.
Salah pierced through the Manchester City defence with a precise pass for Sadio Mane to open the scoring for Liverpool. He then bamboozled his way into the area and scored a potentially historic strike before coming close to another assist.
Rodri had to lunge at the last to deny Fabinho late on after Ederson failed to collect Salah’s cross. Fabinho seemed certain to seal all three points late on, but the spoils were shared.
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