Mohamed Salah Equals Liverpool Legend In An Elite Record During Win Over Atalanta [Watch]

Mohamed Salah moved level with legendary Steven Gerrard as Liverpool FC’s top goal scorer in the Champions League Wednesday. Salah scored in Liverpool’s 5-0 win over Atalanta at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia Stadium in their Group D fixture.

Liverpool went into the half-time break with a lead of 2-0, courtesy of Diogo Jota’s 16th and 33rd-minute strikes. Salah made it 3-0 early in the second half with a well-composed left-footed finish after an initial rapid run. It was the Egyptian King’s 21st goal in the Champions League for Liverpool and now he is tied with former Reds skipper Gerrard, who had scored 21 goals in 73 appearances in the premier European tournament.

The fact that Salah reached 21 goals in only 36 appearances in the Champions League shows how influential he has been for Jurgen Klopp’s side since his arrival from Roma to the Anfield side in the summer of 2017.

With the 5-0 win, where Sadio Mane found his name on the goal sheet apart from Salah and Jota, Liverpool etched a rare record in Italy in the Champions League.

It was the biggest victory by an away English club against Italian opposition in the European competition, according to world leaders in sports data Opta Sports.

Jota, who started for Liverpool against Atalanta ahead of Roberto Firmino, registered his maiden hat-trick for The Reds, while it was also his first-ever hat-trick in the Champions League.

It was Liverpool’s third straight win in their 2020-21 Champions League campaign, meaning Klopp’s side is at the top of Group D with nine points, five clear of Ajax and Atalanta who are both on four points.

Liverpool, who are without the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, have managed to keep a clean sheet in their previous two Champions League fixtures. In their absence, Liverpool have drafted 19-year-old academy player Rhys Williams, who has impressed Klopp in no time.

Speaking about the center-back in a post-match interview, Klopp said, "We can start with Rhys – exceptional. I cannot imagine being 19 years old and playing my second professional football game in the Champions League against [Atalanta striker Duvan] Zapata, it’s incredible! I would have been nervous like hell, but the boy was not. Defending is obviously a common thing, and how the team defended tonight was absolutely incredible. When you leave the last line alone, which we did from time to time, we won the challenges anyway."