Numbers crunched as Mo Salah looks to fire Liverpool back to form versus Everton

Sean Byrne
17 February 2021

Mo Salah in action for Liverpool against Everton

He's been one of Liverpool's most influential players of recent years, and Mo Salah is going to have to weave his magic once again to get the Reds back to their best against their nearest rivals.

The highly anticipated Merseyside derby plays out this weekend, and Liverpool's star man Mo Salah will be hoping he can help his side earn a much-needed three points.

Liverpool suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Leicester City in their last Premier League match despite leading 1-0 after 75 minutes; this was also the Reds' third loss in as many games.

Now, they go on to face bitter rivals Everton in a fixture which over the years has led to many close results.

Stat attack

In their last seven league meetings, five have ended with the points being shared, and the other two resulted in victory for Jurgen Klopp's men.

The Reds will take confidence knowing that Everton have failed to win at Anfield since 1999, and that they have also won both league matches at home in the last two seasons.

Since joining Liverpool in the summer of 2017, Mo Salah has featured in just four meetings against Everton, coming out victorious once and drawing the other three.

Let's take a look at how he did in these games:

Liverpool 1-1 Everton

Anfield

December 10, 2017

Salah's first Merseyside derby failed to have a fairy-tale ending in 2017, as a late penalty from Wayne Rooney cancelled out the Egyptian's first-half opener.

A sublime curling effort from a tight angle by Salah opened the scoring after 42 minutes - a strike which would go on to win him the FIFA Puskas Award for Goal of the Year.

This goal from Salah against the Toffees won the Puskas Award

However, a 77th-minute penalty converted by veteran Rooney ensured the game ended level, despite Liverpool dominating the majority of the match.

Salah's performance earned him star man on whoscored.com with a rating of 8.8, and he wasn't shy in front of goal either with a total of seven shots.

In the reverse fixture that season, a slight groin injury meant Salah was unavailable, as his side were held to a goalless draw down the road at Goodison Park.

Liverpool 1-0 Everton

Anfield

December 2, 2018

A last-minute error from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford gifted Divock Origi with the only goal of the game, as Salah struggled to make an impact as a solo striker this time round.

Starting up top with Xherdan Shaqiri, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane just behind him, Salah failed to find the back of the net and was substituted after 75 minutes for Daniel Sturridge with the score goalless.

Despite ending that calendar year with 28 goals in the Premier League, Salah failed to find himself any clear-cut chances in this game, and will have been disappointed with his performance.

Luckily for his side, a howler from Pickford gifted another substitute Divock Origi with a tap-in six minutes into injury time.

Everton 0-0 Liverpool

Goodison Park

March 3, 2019

Once again Liverpool were held to a goalless draw at Goodison Park in March 2019, despite Salah coming very close.

Just before the break Salah found himself one-on-one with Pickford after a superb pass from Fabinho split the Everton backline.

However, the Egyptian seemed to take the ball too close to the keeper, and his side-footed shot from just outside the six-yard box was well saved by the England international.

In the second half, Salah found himself in a similar position. However, a brilliant sliding challenge from defender Michael Keane intercepted the ball before the Liverpool forward could get his shot off.

Liverpool would live to regret these missed chances as the final whistle went with the score 0-0, leaving them a point behind Manchester City with nine games remaining. Pep Guardiola's side would, of course, go on to win the title that year.

Everton 2-2 Liverpool

Goodison Park

October 17, 2020

mohamed mo salah liverpool everton merseyside derby goal

Salah celebrates a goal in the last Merseyside derby

In the earlier match-up this season, Salah's volleyed finish was not enough to win the match for the Reds as they drew 2-2 against their rivals.

With the score level at 1-1 following goals from Mane and Keane, Salah capitalised on a mistake from defender Yerry Mina to blast the ball past Pickford after 72 minutes, leading to a tense final quarter of the game.

Unfortunately for Salah and his team-mates, they failed to hold on as ten minutes later Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the ball in the net at the opposite end, and the game finished all square.

Salah once again proved prominent in front of goal, with a total of six shots in the game and a 8.0 rating on whoscored.com.

The game also featured another key player for Liverpool in Virgil van Dijk being stretchered off the pitch following a clumsy and unpunished challenge from Pickford. The Netherlands defender is now out for the rest of the season, meaning there is even more motivation to beat their bitter rivals this time round.