03 September 2023 , 15:50
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With ten minutes on the clock, in Saudi-style heat, Mohamed Salah had not done a great deal.
He had watched a sumptuous strike from Dominik Szoboszlai give the 22-year-old Hungarian his first Liverpool goal, but that was about it. Still, the Anfield crowd felt compelled to serenade Salah with that familiar ditty.
There was a lot of orchestrated love for Mo during his most routine of victories for Jurgen Klopp’s team. But if he really does need persuading to ignore the outlandishly extravagant overtures from Saudi Arabia, both the audience and Salah’s team-mates did a fantastically comprehensive job.
Apart from the tens and tens of millions of obvious reasons, why would Salah swap this mecca of football for Saudi Arabia? This feels like a rejuvenated Liverpool, this sounds like a rejuvenated Klopp, this smells like a rejuvenated Anfield.
And with a front three of Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, Liverpool have an attacking potency that will surely produce a realistic title challenge this season. Salah and Nunez combined to force Liverpool’s second, the latter’s strike coming back off an upright and going in courtesy of Matty Cash’s unfortunate intervention.
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And it was actually the Uruguayan striker who produced the more eye-catching performance in the first half.
His physical directness, his pace and his quick feet caused the Villa defence all sorts of problems and only the goal-frame denied him deserved reward, although he could not blame the furniture for missing a sitter with his head early in the second half.
That chance was also provided by Salah, clearly revelling in the significance of the occasion. No wonder the Saudi state - through one of its puppet clubs, Al Ittihad - wants Salah as the ultimate trophy signing.
Mo Salah was back amongst the goals in front of an adoring Anfield crowdBut unless it was some sort of unlikely farewell gesture, he confirmed his attachment to Liverpool with a kiss of the Anfield turf after Nunez flicked on an Andy Roberston corner, allowing Salah to poach his second Premier League goal of the season.
Salah was well aware of the importance of the moment after Friday’s £150million shenanigans. And no matter how much Liverpool are offered between now and the closure of the Saudi transfer window, it is inconceivable they would sell.
Klopp said on Friday he “loves” this latest Liverpool team and it is very, very easy to see why, even though they did concede the odd chance to a strangely one-paced Villa.
Cash should have scored in more conventional fashion but Alisson just about kept out the full-back’s firm header and John McGinn put an early opportunity into the Kop with an errant left foot.
But apart from those moments, Liverpool never looked in any serious trouble and were always in control against Unai Emery’s side.
And the summer signings have made a very decent start to life on Merseyside. Alexis Mac Allister has settled in very well and in Szoboszlai, they have a real box-to-box talent.
And with Klopp able to send on the likes of Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota to fresh the forward line, it is clear Liverpool have a deeper squad than a lot of judges realise. So, apart from those tens and tens of millions of obvious reasons, why on earth would Salah want to leave?
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On this joyful evidence, it is clear he doesn’t.