Mohamed Salah has broken two Champions League records and equalled another after contributing to both of Liverpool's goals in a 5-2 home defeat against Real Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday.
Liverpool – who were seeking revenge over Real Madrid after losing last season's final against the Spanish giants – raced into a two-goal lead at Anfield when Darwin Nunez and Salah both found the net within the opening 14 minutes.
Salah played a perfectly-weighted pass towards Nunez who audaciously flicked the ball beyond Thibaut Courtois from inside the area to open the scoring in the fourth minute.
In doing so, Liverpool's Egyptian king registered his 13th Champions League assist for the Reds, becoming the first player in the club's history to reach that landmark in the competition.
Salah was then gifted a glorious chance by Courtois when the Real Madrid goalkeeper mis-controlled a backpass with his knee, allowing Liverpool's No.11 to make the net ripple with a side-footed effort in the 14th minute.
Our Egyptian king. Our European king 👑
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 21, 2023
Simply incredible, @MoSalah ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aaYGMOknIZ
Salah has now scored a total of 44 goals in the Champions League, the joint-most by an African player in the competition's history along with former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba.
Forty-two of Salah's Champions League goals have been scored for Liverpool, and his latest strike has seen him overtake Steven Gerrard as the club's highest scorer in Europe's elite club competition.
The attacker has now taken his goal tally for the season to 19 in 34 games across all competitions, with eight of those netted in the Champions League, more than any other player at this stage of the current campaign.
Despite Salah's impressive individual feats, Liverpool went on to concede five goals in a chaotic Champions League contest, with Real Madrid restoring parity before the break courtesy of two goals from Vinicius Junior.
Eder Militao then gave Los Blancos the lead two minutes into the second half, before a brace from Karim Benzema put the game to bed to hand Carlo Ancelotti's side a three-goal advantage heading into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu in three weeks' time.
© Reuters
Speaking to BT Sport after the humbling defeat, manager Jurgen Klopp said: "The beginning was outstanding. It was us in a nutshell. It was perfect, exactly how we wanted to play. The whole first half was good beside the goals.
"The first goal we became slightly passive higher up the pitch, we weren't chasing them. The second goal is slapstick. It shouldn't happen, can happen, 2-2.
"We couldn't continue the momentum. We played completely into their hands. At 3-2 it was the opposite. They became more confident and scored great goals. One was deflected. That's how it is. It's a strange one.
"There's a lot for me to take from this as well. We have five or six players and no challenge [for one of the goals]. That can't happen. We were passive until the ball arrived there.
"We will go there (the Bernabeu) and play a football game. It will be a massive challenge. But we have to play in the Premier League first and make sure we learn from this game."
Liverpool will now turn their attention back to the Premier League when they travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on Saturday, with the Reds seeking to close the seven-point gap to the top four.
Oliver Thomas
