Egyptian king Mohamed Salah Premier League’s most prolific African

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their fifth goal and his hat-trick against Manchester United. Picture: Phil Noble/Reuters

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their fifth goal and his hat-trick against Manchester United. Picture: Phil Noble/Reuters

Published Oct 24, 2021

Share

Cape Town - Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has become the most prolific scoring African-born player in Premier League history following his hat-trick in the 5-0 hammering of Manchester United.

Sunday's three goals saw him eclipse the mark of hitherto pacesetter Ivorian Didier Drogba.

ALSO READ: Mohamed Salah stars as Manchester United humiliated by 5-star Liverpool

Salah's goal tally now stands at 107 in only 167 matches. Drogba's record stood at 104 Premiership goals in 254 appearances.

Salah's teammate Senegalese Sadio Mane, who came on as a substitute in Sunday's match, is next on the list of highest African Premiership scores with 100 strikes.

He is followed by Togo-born Emmanuel Adebayor with 97. Next is Nigerian Yakubu Ayegbeni on 95 to make up the record of the five leading African scorers.

After this sublime performance, Salah can lay claim to being the best player in the world after scoring 15 goals in his last 12 matches. Apart from his hat-trick, he also had a hand in the opening goal.

He was a constant threat whenever in possession, and his three-goal haul on Sunday was the end product of clinical finishing, which on the day went unmatched.

He also became the first Premiership player in an away team to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford.

@Herman_Gibbs