Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes that Mohamed Salah can act as the club’s talisman against Real Madrid in the Champions League final, just as Steven Gerrard did against AC Milan in Istanbul.
Anfield legend Gerrard scored Liverpool’s first goal after they went three behind against Milan in the 2005 final, with Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso rounding off a famous comeback which saw the Reds go on to win on penalties.
The club are now in their first European showpiece since 2007, when they ended up losing to Milan, and Hamann believes that Salah can play the Gerrard role this time around.
Speaking to the Mirror, he drooled over Salah, saying: “If you want to win big trophies then you need your big players to step up when it matters. Liverpool have got other big talents like Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino – but Mo Salah is the man. In that respect, he can inspire Liverpool against Madrid like Steven Gerrard did when we played Milan.
“If you are a goal or two behind – or three, like we were in Istanbul – you see someone like Gerrard alongside you and you know you’re still in the game. You know that you’ve got a team-mate with a special talent, someone who can create a goal out of nothing, or produce a bit of brilliance to get you back in the game.
“It’s hard to describe what kind of belief having those game-changing players in your team gives you. If you’ve got a goal-scorer of Mo Salah’s class in your side you know you’re never out of the game. It’s like having a talisman. Steven Gerrard was one – and Mo Salah can be one.”
OPINION
If there is anyone in this Liverpool side who will be their talisman come the 26th of May, it will likely be Salah. The Egyptian king has been the man for the Reds all season, and it would be fitting if he managed to do it one more time against the giants of Real Madrid. In years gone by not many would have given Liverpool a chance against the Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired side, but Real have shown vulnerability both in Europe and at home this season, and the Reds will go into this one believing they have a serious chance of lifting Europe’s biggest trophy for a sixth time. Considering the form that both sides have been in this season it looks like Saturday’s clash could well be a goal fest, with both defences struggling while the attacking lines have been firing. After the game, attention will surely turn to Salah’s future, with the 25-year-old consistently linked with opponents Real this summer. At this point however, he has given no indication that he will look to leave, and who could blame him after the season the club have had so far?
