Salah on fire as he scores in Liverpool rout and other things learned from Arab stars in the Premier League

Sport360 staff 15:56 28/08/2017
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  • Salah was again on target for the Merseysiders.

    The Premier League season is three games old and every week we’ll be keeping tabs on four Arab football stars on show in English football’s top tier.

    What did you make of the following players’ performances?

    Get in touch with your thoughts via Twitter and Facebook.

    MOHAMED SALAH | LIVERPOOL 4-0 ARSENAL

    Everything the Egyptian star touched turned to gold for the Merseysiders as the winger played a vital role in the Reds’ victory at Anfield.

    Salah has more than lived up to the billing since his big-money summer switch from Roma, scoring a magnificent third for Liverpool after running half the length of the pitch.

    He then turned provider late on, crossing for Daniel Sturridge to nod home.

    The 25-year-old’s menacing pace, movement and work-rate was too much for the Gunners’ backline to handle.

    Rating – 9/10

    KEY STATS (LIVERPOOL)

    Minutes – 90

    Shots – 5 (5)

    Assists – 1

    Key Passes – 1

    Passing Accuracy – 80%

    Touches – 36

    Passes – 41 (5)

    Dribbles – 1

    Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (R) celebrates with Liverpool's Senegalese midfielder Sadio Mane after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on August 27, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Anthony Devlin / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read ANTHONY DEVLIN/AFP/Getty Images)

    Salah is turning out to be a stunning buy for Liverpool.

    RIYAD MAHREZ | MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 LEICESTER CITY

    The talented winger, who is rumoured to be leaving the 2016 Premier League champions before the end of the transfer window, struggled to make an impact during the defeat at Old Trafford.

    Despite registering four shots on goal, the most out of any of his team-mates, his end product lacked the bite to truly trouble Jose Mourinho’s men on their own turf.

    Mahrez has been linked with a move to Serie A side Roma and while his future is in doubt, he was always on the move trying to provide an outlet for his team.

    Rating – 6/10

    KEY STATS (LEICESTER)

    Minutes – 90

    Shots – 4 (1)

    Assists – 0

    Key Passes – 0

    Passing Accuracy – 78.4%

    Touches – 58

    Passes – 37 (5)

    Dribbles – 5

    MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Riyad Mahrez of Leicester City in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leicester City at Old Trafford on August 26, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

    The Algerian couldn’t help muster a breakthrough.

    AHMED HEGAZI | WEST BROM 1-1 STOKE CITY

    The Egyptian defender didn’t enjoy an afternoon to remember at the Hawthorns.

    His wrong-footed, sliced clearance allowed Peter Crouch the simplest of chances to nod home and bring the match all-square on level terms.

    It was a costly error given the 26-year-old was under no real pressure at the time.

    The fact he failed to score a second-half header from close-range only made matters worse.

    Rating – 5/10

    KEY STATS (WEST BROM)

    Minutes – 90

    Shots – 1 (0)

    Assists – 0

    Key Passes – 0

    Passing Accuracy – 81.3%

    Touches – 43

    Passes – 32 (0)

    Dribbles – 0

    WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Peter Crouch of Stoke City scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City at The Hawthorns on August 27, 2017 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

    Agonising for the West Brom defender.

    RAMADAN SOBHI | WEST BROM 1-1 STOKE CITY

    The 20-year-old Egyptian more than played his part in Stoke’s crucial equalising goal in the midlands.

    It was his cross that Hegazi and goalkeeper Ben Foster failed to fully deal with, allowing Crouch with the easiest of chances to nod into the net.

    Apart from his key part in the levelling goal, Sobhi was largely anonymous and failed to get involved in the game.

    Rating – 5/10

    KEY STATS (WEST BROM)

    Minutes – 90

    Shots – 3 (0)

    Assists – 0

    Key Passes – 0

    Passing Accuracy – 57.1%

    Touches – 28

    Passes – 14 (0)

    Dribbles – 0

    STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - MAY 13: Ramadan Sobhi of Stoke City during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Arsenal at Bet365 Stadium on May 13, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

    In action: Sobhi.

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