For Liverpool, much of their hopes in the Champions League final rest on the shoulders of Mohamed Salah.
Of course, Jurgen Klopp’s side have some other fine players, not least the likes of Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, but it has been Salah who has been their talisman this season.
No one saw Salah’s incredible season coming last summer, even if many believed the Merseyside giants had grabbed a bargain from Roma.
Finishing as the Premier League top goal scorer after smashing records in his first season at Liverpool was a hugely impressive achievement.
Just two days before the Champions League final in Rome, it has been revealed that Salah will likely not eat or drink for 18 hours before facing Real Madrid.
According to Marca, via Egyptian source Al Masry al Youm, it has been confirmed that Salah will be keeping Ramadan for the final.
Salah, a devout Muslim, has been keeping to the laws of Ramadan since it started on May 16, 2018.
According to the Muslim celebration, Salah cannot eat, drink or have sex during the daylight hours.
Some interpretations of Ramadan suggest that athletes can abstain from keeping these laws ahead of important personal event.
Al Masry al Youm cite people “close to Salah” who believe it “will not affect” his performance for Liverpool against Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
In addition, it has been revealed that Salah’s family in Egypt will ritually sacrifice three calves before the match, in order to bless the Liverpool superstar.
Leganes player Nabil El Zhar, formerly of Liverpool told Marca that “I play better during Ramadan because I’m cleaner on the inside.”