Salah equals Rooney's Manchester United legacy as Liverpool down Aston Villa

Mohamed Salah has once again etched his name into Premier League history, equalling Wayne Rooney’s legendary record of 276 goal involvements for a single club.

The Egyptian King did it in style, scoring as Liverpool defeated Aston Villa 2-0 to snap a damaging run of league defeats and silence growing criticism.

Salah’s tally now stands at 187 goals and 88 assists in the Premier League for Liverpool, drawing level with Rooney’s 276 contributions for Manchester United (183 goals, 93 assists).

The Egyptian also celebrated another major milestone on the night, becoming just the third player in Liverpool history to reach 250 goals in all competitions, joining icons Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285).

His latest strike arrived courtesy of a rare Emi Martínez error, but composure was still needed as Salah calmly rolled the ball into an empty net in first-half added time to put Liverpool ahead.

With a contract running until 2027 and still operating at the highest level, he is on course not only to overtake Rooney but also potentially to become the first player to reach 300 Premier League goal involvements for a single club, a feat that would cement him among the division’s greatest ever.

The significance of the moment stretched beyond individual records. Liverpool came into the match under heavy scrutiny amid a worrying slide under Arne Slot, losing four straight Premier League fixtures and six of their last seven in all competitions.

Salah, one of those most criticised during the dip, responded emphatically, delivering when his team needed him most and reminding supporters why he remains Liverpool’s talisman.

His goal paved the way for a much-needed 2-0 victory, bringing relief to Anfield and restoring belief ahead of a crucial stretch in the campaign.

While questions remain about Liverpool’s long-term form, one thing continues to shine through: when the pressure rises, Mohamed Salah rises higher.