Liverpool’s star forward, Mohamed Salah, sparked intrigue during the team’s recent clash against Newcastle United by swapping his football boots at halftime.
The move raised questions and stirred debate on social media platforms.
In the match that saw Liverpool triumph 4-2 against Newcastle United in the 20th round of the Premier League, Salah’s footwear became a focal point as he changed his boots despite both pairs having identical specifications and being of the same version.
The six previous scenes unfolded through the goals of both teams and a missed penalty by the Egyptian international, leading to the peculiar seventh scene of Salah exchanging his boots at halftime.
The incident prompted discussions on various social media platforms, with fans speculating on the reasons behind the unexpected change.
Addressing the controversy in a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Salah clarified, “The first penalty that I missed, I took it with the boots I had trained in the day before the match.”
He continued, dispelling any superstition rumors, “It’s not that I believe in superstitions.
I have used many different boots.
But when I felt it might affect my focus in the game, I decided to change them.
It may sound silly, but I didn’t want to think about it in the second half, especially after missing that goal.
Changing the boots helped calm my mind and focus on the game.”
Mohamed Salah, renowned for his association with Adidas, has a longstanding contract with the German sportswear company, receiving specially designed footwear tailored to match different weather conditions and support long-distance running with distinctive engineering.
Notably, Salah’s unique boots with the inscription “mo” and the King’s crown on the other pair were released in a limited edition of 1069 pairs, sold in England and worldwide for £220 each.
The number 69, as explained by Adidas, symbolizes Salah’s personal dream of becoming Egypt’s all-time top scorer.
In the match against Newcastle, Salah showcased his prowess, scoring twice and contributing to Liverpool’s lead in the English Premier League. English newspapers rated Salah’s performance between 8 and 9 out of 10, with an overall average rating of 8.4 across various media outlets.
As Salah prepares to join Egypt’s national team for the Africa Cup of Nations, this game marked his final appearance for Liverpool before the international tournament.
With 18 goals in 26 matches this season, Salah continues to be a crucial asset for the team, contributing significantly to Liverpool’s successes in various competitions over the years.
