Even by his standards, this was remarkable. The intention was for Mohamed Salah to have 30 minutes, to stretch his legs and try to shake off any lingering rustiness.
It had been 60 days since Salah’s last Liverpool appearance but within 52 seconds, it was as if he had never been away. A bullet header planted firmly past Manchester City keeper Joe Hart and the Egyptian was off the mark, putting a fresh twist on the term quick single.
As ever, the smile that followed was broad. His demeanour was juxtaposed to how Liverpool fans had last seen him in the Champions League final. The image of him leaving the field in tears, his shoulder damaged after a tumble with Sergio Ramos, was a defining image in Kiev.
That injury clearly hindered him at the World Cup. There were other issues, too, that prevented him sparkling in Russia, such as a row with the Egyptian FA and the furore that followed when he was photographed with the divisive Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.
But at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Salah made a statement of intent ahead of the new season. Some will feel last season’s haul of 44 goals was a fluke but if his cameo in the 2-1 victory over City is a signing of things to come, he looks set to keep the number crunchers busy again.
‘The best players in the world aren’t known because they just did something in one season,’ said Liverpool midfielder James Milner. ‘They do it over and over again. Mo is more than capable of doing that. There is pressure when you have had one good year to deliver again but he is a top player.
‘He is going to keep on improving. It’s down to all of us to help him be the best player he can and do that as part of a team. We need to keep improving as a side with him as well and make sure the pressure isn’t just on his shoulders to deliver the goals and get us out of tough situations.’
Liverpool, undoubtedly, will entertain again and with Sadio Mane – who scored the winner against City from the penalty spot – and Roberto Firmino in assistance, Jurgen Klopp’s supply line of goals is rich. This is a side who are made up to win matches by heavy scores.
Yet for all that Klopp focuses on the group, there is no question over who is the main figure. Salah, who has undergone extra gym sessions and had regular massages to strengthen his shoulder, proved that against City.
Apart from the goal, which cancelled out Leroy Sane’s superb finish, Salah also had a header cleared off the line and struck the bar after streaking clear. There was a reason Liverpool made him their top earner with a new five-year deal at the start of the month and here was an exciting glimpse.
‘I was never worried (about him leaving), personally,’ said Milner. ‘There’s always going to be stories when players do well. You saw how well he played last season and he is going to improve again. He seems happy. I don’t see any reason why he’d want to go.’