Mohamed Salah once again etched his name into Liverpool folklore with a moment that blended joy, spontaneity, and a touch of modernity. During Liverpool’s Premier League title-clinching 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the Egyptian star celebrated his goal in a way that has since become iconic: a selfie in front of a roaring Anfield crowd.
After netting Liverpool’s fourth goal of the evening, Salah borrowed a mobile phone from a staff member positioned behind the advertising hoardings at the Kop end. Smiling broadly, he turned the camera on himself, capturing a jubilant selfie with thousands of Liverpool fans in the background.
The image quickly went viral, garnering millions of likes and views across social media. Yet, amid the celebrations, questions arose: was this a heartfelt moment or a clever marketing ploy? The phone Salah used was a Google Pixel — notably, Google is an official sponsor of Liverpool FC.
Addressing the speculation, Salah explained to BBC Sport that the idea was rooted in his long-standing tradition. “At the beginning of the season I always take selfies with players [who score], so for this one I said ‘OK, I have to think of something special because it’s a picture that’s going to be there forever,’” Salah said.
Throughout the season, Salah has often posted selfies with teammates after significant wins, and his recent contract extension announcement also featured a self-taken photo. Therefore, Sunday’s moment felt like a natural extension of his personality rather than a staged advertisement.
Initially, many thought Salah had grabbed the phone from a supporter. However, it was later clarified that it belonged to a Liverpool staff member stationed near the pitch. Despite the marketing speculation, many pointed out that there was no way to guarantee Salah would score — though, given it was his 33rd goal of the season, perhaps it wasn’t too far-fetched.
Interestingly, Salah wasn’t the only player drawing attention for his goal celebration. Earlier in the match, Cody Gakpo received a yellow card after revealing an undershirt that read “I belong to Jesus” following his goal. Salah, however, escaped punishment from referee Thomas Bramall, who opted not to book him for delaying the restart.
The Football Association (FA) has been approached for comment, but there appear to be no rules directly addressing marketing during goal celebrations. FA guidelines mainly cover advertising on kits and regulations concerning betting companies, suggesting Salah’s selfie — marketing-related or not — falls into a grey area.
Salah’s celebration is not without precedent. Football legend Francesco Totti famously took a selfie after scoring in the 2015 Rome derby, and Mario Balotelli filmed his celebration with teammates while playing for Marseille in 2019.
Regardless of the marketing debate, Salah’s selfie has instantly become one of the defining images of Liverpool’s triumphant season — a blend of footballing excellence and a nod to the selfie-obsessed digital age.
And for Liverpool fans, it’s a picture — and a memory — that truly is worth a thousand words.
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