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Tuesday, 18 August 2026dailybeirut.com
Sports
Salah reveals the intense pressure of his first Liverpool match and how he never expected to become a club legend.
Mohamed Salah has described the crushing anxiety he felt during his first appearance for Liverpool, admitting he was so nervous he could barely perform. In a candid interview with Supersport, the Egyptian star recalled the immense pressure of his debut against Watford, a match that left him feeling far from the required standard.
"I remember how I lived under huge pressure in my first match for Liverpool against Watford. I was extremely nervous," Salah said. He added that his first-half performance was poor, saying, "I was not close to the team's level in the first half and did not play well at all. I remember Jurgen Klopp's talk to us between the halves, where he said, 'Guys, welcome to the English Premier League. We have to fight and win,' but I was still nervous."
The relief only came after scoring his first goal. "After scoring the first goal, I felt relieved. I don't think I have ever felt such tension in any period of my life as I felt in that match. I expected to score in my first match, but I was nervous," he explained.
Reflecting on his journey, Salah admitted he never envisioned becoming a Liverpool icon. "At the beginning, I did not think I would become a legend at a club like Liverpool. But after my second year, I won the Champions League title, and I won the English Premier League title in my third year. Yes, I felt I could achieve something good here," he stated.
“At the beginning, I did not think I would become a legend at a club like Liverpool. But after my second year, I won the Champions League title, and I won the English Premier League title in my third year. Yes, I felt I could achieve something good here.”
Salah contrasted the feeling of winning his first Premier League title with the second. "An incredible feeling, but the coronation came without fans. It was difficult to go to an empty stadium lit only by a few lights, with no one celebrating. I loved winning the second title, and it was exciting because it was with the fans present, and we won against Tottenham. I wished time would stop and I could stay there a little longer," he said.
He vividly recalled the moment the final whistle blew for that second league win. "I remember exactly what I did that day after the final whistle. I knelt on one knee and raised my hand. It is an indescribable feeling. I think I felt adrenaline and dopamine. I really wished time would stop and I could see everything around me in red and people happy. It is special because we had not tasted winning the league for more than 30 years."
On winning the 2019 UEFA Champions League in Madrid, Salah described it as the fulfillment of a childhood dream. "Winning it in Madrid in 2019 after a tough season the previous year, losing the final and suffering an injury, was an incredible feeling. I achieved a childhood dream. I had wished to play in the Champions League since I was young. I am not saying I wanted to win the title; I just wanted to participate in it. Imagine that, and then winning the title with a team like Liverpool is incredible."
Salah, who has already announced his departure from Liverpool at the end of the current season by mutual agreement, leaves after nine years. During his time at Anfield, he secured the English Premier League, the Champions League, and several other trophies.
