Few players in Liverpool’s modern history have inspired the same level of reverence as Mohamed Salah.
Since his arrival from Roma in 2017, the Egyptian has become the face of a new era at Anfield. A relentless goalscorer, record-breaker, and a player whose impact will be felt long after he hangs up his boots. Inevitably, Salah’s legacy sparks discussion over whether he deserves the ‘GOAT’ tag.
In a recent interview, former Liverpool full-back and cult hero John Arne Riise believes it is Salah’s ability to remain self-assured, even when not at his best, that separates him from so many others.
“It’s so hard to believe in your ability that much. He never seems to doubt himself.
He always keeps doing the same thing. Some games, sure, he’s off it, not having his best day — but he’s always a threat. You know, he’s always someone who can pop up with a goal because he’s so calm.”
That belief in his own ability has been a defining trait of Salah’s Liverpool career. Few could have predicted the scale of his impact, yet season after season he has rewritten records and redefined expectations.
Riise, who spent seven seasons at Anfield between 2001 and 2008, knows what it means to perform under pressure in front of the Kop. The Norwegian, remembered for his thunderous left foot and marauding runs down the left flank, was a key figure in Rafael Benítez’s side that lifted the Champions League in Istanbul in 2005.
Having played alongside icons such as Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Riise has a keen eye for greatness and believes Salah belongs firmly in that conversation.
The numbers underline the consistency of Liverpool’s talisman — four Premier League Golden Boots, two African Footballer of the Year awards, and an unprecedented 2017–18 campaign in which he scored 32 goals in 36 league appearances.
Last term, the “Egyptian King” became the first player in history to win the Golden Boot, Playmaker award, and Player of the Season in a single campaign and has reached double figures for both goals and assists in eight consecutive seasons, a feat unmatched in the Premier League era.
And the winger’s start to the 2025–26 season suggests that there is no slowing down. In Liverpool’s 4-2 victory over Bournemouth on August 15, Salah struck, racing clear to finish clinically in front of the Kop. That goal not only sealed the win, It was also his tenth opening-day goal — extending yet another competition record.
Salah’s advocates highlight his relentless output, his decisive goals in big moments and his longevity at the highest level. For many Liverpool fans, he is already the club’s greatest modern player.
Yet as Riise’s words underline that Salah’s success is not only about statistics, it is about mentality, self-belief, and the ability to deliver when it matters. Few embody calmness under pressure as consistently as he does and, at Anfield, that is enough to ensure that Mohamed Salah’s name will echo alongside Liverpool’s most revered legends.
