Mohamed Salah reflects on emotional farewell after last Merseyside derby goal

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Mohamed Salah is determined to help Liverpool achieve Champions League football next season as the Egyptian forward heads into his final few games before his departure

Mohamed Salah put Liverpool in front just a few minutes after an Everton goal was disallowed(Image: (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images))

Mohamed Salah reflected on his final appearance in the Merseyside derby with the Egyptian forward wanting to help Liverpool secure Champions League soccer next season.

Salah may have endured a challenging final season, but he delivered when it mattered most for Liverpool, opening the scoring in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Everton. After Beto had levelled for the hosts, Virgil van Dijk snatched a stoppage-time winner to seal a crucial result in Liverpool’s push for a top-five finish.

Salah’s strike was his ninth in the Merseyside derby, drawing him level with Steven Gerrard as the club’s joint-top scorer in the fixture — further cementing his legacy ahead of his departure at the end of the season.

On scoring in his last Merseyside derby, Salah told Sky Sports: "It feels great. The most important thing was to help the team to settle down and feel more confident. We knew before the game it was going to be tricky, difficult, and I’m glad we were able to win it."

On just having a few games left as a Liverpool player, he added: “I wish I just keep scoring and help the team to achieve Champions League this season. Hopefully I say farewell in the right way."

Van Dijk left Salah visibly emotional as the Liverpool captain paid tribute to his departing teammate following the Merseyside derby. Both players were interviewed by Sky Sports at full-time, with Salah collecting the man of the match award as Van Dijk delivered a heartfelt message ahead of the forward’s expected exit at the end of the season.

"There will be a lot of words coming out of my mouth in the next couple of weeks about him,” Van Dijk said. “But he's so important for us, on and off the pitch.

Virgil van Dijk left Mohamed Salah visibly emotional after Liverpool's win over Everton(Image: Sky Sports)

"The appreciation sometimes come when players are gone but we appreciate him so much. He's an outstanding team-mate to have, we've been through everything together, high and lows. He will still be important for the last five games we have to play.

"It will be emotional for him and his family for sure but us as well because he means a lot to me, to the team and the fans, of course. But first, we still have a job to do. He knows it, that's the main focus."

Following Chelsea’s defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, Liverpool now requires a maximum of nine points from its remaining five matches to secure a top-five finish in the Premier League.

Liverpool rounds off its campaign with fixtures against Crystal Palace, Manchester United, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brentford, with most of those sides firmly involved in the race for European qualification.