Mohamed Salah is having a Ballon d’Or-worthy season. Tomorrow, he’ll face Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup, knowing that a hat trick would push Spurs above Manchester United as the team he’s scored against most often. He already has 14 goals in 22 games against them, with strikes at Basel, Chelsea, Fiorentina, and now Liverpool.
It’s a tantalizing prospect. Two goals would tie Spurs with United at 16, but one more would make Tottenham his new “favorite” opponent by that metric. Manager Arne Slot can’t hide his admiration, noting last month after Salah scored his 50th European goal for the Reds. “Special, I think, is the word that describes Mo’s performance at this club the best.” Meanwhile, Salah remarked, “Of course it is something I’m very proud of and it comes with a win so that’s great,” when discussing his knack for big moments.
A familiar rival, a possible shift in history
Tottenham may already be bracing for a barrage of pressure. The stakes are high because the Spurs lead 1–0 in the first leg, and Liverpool needs a decisive response to reach the final. The tie’s winner will face either Newcastle or Arsenal in the final at Wembley Stadium on March 16.
Salah’s consistency this season has been stunning. He’s scored 25 goals and tallied 17 assists in 33 appearances. Despite endless transfer talk, he remains laser-focused on silverware. Tottenham knows exactly what he can do: he scored a brace against them in the Premier League just before Christmas.
Salah’s legacy at Liverpool is safe, but every new record deepens his imprint on the club’s history. If he bags that elusive hat trick against Spurs, he’ll set another personal milestone and might propel his team one step closer to a Wembley showdown. Considering his track record, don’t rule it out.
