Michael Owen says one Liverpool player was ‘just brilliant’ vs Atletico Madrid
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Liverpool kick-started their Champions League campaign with a dramatic win
The Reds have been criticised at the start of the season for not being as free-flowing as they used to be, but they certainly proved doubters wrong during their win against Atletico Madrid.
Throughout the game, they were a constant threat, and as seen at the start of the season, they simply never give up.
However, despite the result, Reds fans will feel a little more encouraged by the performance as a whole as, unlike previous weeks, it looked like they could score multiple goals.
One reason for this is because one player in particular looked back to his best, with Michael Owen full of praise for the Liverpool star.
Photo by Jose Hernandez/Anadolu via Getty Images
At the beginning of the season, Mohamed Salah has faced heavy criticism due to how quiet he has been, even though he has two goals and one assist in the league already.
But, if there was any doubt whatsoever, the Egyptian has put that to bed as he excelled on the wing for the Reds against Atletico.
He was a threat in terms of both creativity and goalscoring, with the winger very unlucky not to come away with more from the game.
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Either way, he took his goal in stunning fashion after holding off three players before putting it in the back of the net, something Owen could not believe he managed to pull off.
“He’s used to the big occasions, it was a lovely overlap from Frimpong but once he starts breaking in, there’s just no stopping him,” Owen said on TNTSports.
“His strength, I love that second touch as well, he’s got bodies on him yet he’s still got the strength and power for that soft first touch.
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“Frimpong, it’s a good overlap, it just moved Gonzalez out the way, that is pivotal actually as he is probably the closest man to Salah.
“But that second touch from Salah, under all that pressure, drags it from behind, it’s a deft little touch.
It’s the perfect touch, just brilliant.”
As Owen rightly mentioned, Salah is the man for the big occasions, and hitting form now could not have come at a better time.
Not only has he helped the Reds win their first game of the Champions League campaign against very tough opposition, but he has prepared himself well for the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
The 33-year-old loved playing against the Toffees and has scored eight and assisted two in the 13 games he has played against them for the Reds.
And now, it would be no surprise to see him increase his impressive tally on derby day, with Reds fans now likely a little bit more optimistic.