There’s been something different about [Liverpool](https://walkon.com/) superstar Mohamed Salah this season. He has been one of the least effective wingers in the Premier League at winning one on one duels, and even some Kopites are wondering if their beloved Egyptian icon is losing a step.
The basic box score numbers haven’t been bad, but Salah has lacked that same spark and killer edge in front of goal, even as his creative numbers still place him among the elite wingers in world football.
Well, on Tuesday night in the Champions League, Salah was among the Liverpool stars to shine brightly against Real Madrid, a team that the perennial Premier League Player of the Season candidate hasn’t often fared well against.
Salah answered the critics and turned back the clock with a quietly vintage display for the Reds against the Royal Whites, winning, per Squawka’s stats, 10 duels and completing five take-ons.
No player in the game beat Salah in these two categories. He was much more active and effective on the ball for Liverpool, and against one of the best teams in the world, Salah offered more evidence that he isn’t quite finished yet.
Joe Soriano is the editor of _The Trivela Effect_ and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like _The Real Champs_ (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage _NFL Spin Zone_ and _Daily DDT,_ covering the NFL and pro wrestling.