Egyptian centre-back Ahmed Hegazi was the best player on the pitch as West Brom ground out a 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
An Egyptian international stood out as Liverpool welcomed West Brom to Anfield on Wednesday night – but it wasn’t Mo Salah for once.
The red-hot frontman was but a peripheral figure as Jurgen Klopp’s side toiled to a goalless draw against The Baggies – marked out of the game by his compatriot and close friend Ahmed Hegazi.
The 26-year-old did not put a foot wrong alongside Jonny Evans at the heart of West Brom’s defence, making two interceptions, four tackles and a game-high nine clearances.
In fact, it was just the latest in a series of quietly superb performances for a defender nicknamed, with good reason, ‘the Nesta of the Pyramids’.
Like the legendary Italian centre-back, Hegazi is comfortable with the ball at his feet, quick across the ground and absolutely imperious in the air – as Salah and co discovered in midweek.
You could argue that Hegazi’s performance displayed everything Liverpool’s ramshackle defence has lacked over the last three or four years. No wonder ESPN claimed last month that The Reds are hoping to sign the Al Ahly-owned defender when his loan spell at West Brom expires at the end of the season.
And this would be a move backed by the majority of Liverpool fans on the evidence of last night’s display.
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