In the grand stage of English football, where heroes are made and legacies carved with every strike, Mohamed Salah has once again elevated himself among the immortals of the Premier League. On the opening night of the 2025/26 campaign, the Egyptian superstar delivered yet another iconic moment — one that secured his place alongside Andrew Cole in the record books as joint-fourth all-time leading scorer in league history.
Liverpool had already put Bournemouth to the sword at Anfield, cruising toward a 4-2 victory, when Salah seized the opportunity to add one final flourish. With trademark composure, he finished clinically from close range to net his 187th Premier League goal. For casual viewers, it was a routine strike. But for those aware of its significance, it was the goal that placed Salah shoulder to shoulder with one of the division’s most renowned forwards.
Andrew Cole’s 187-goal tally has long stood as a symbol of striking excellence, accumulated across his glittering career with Newcastle, Manchester United, and Blackburn Rovers. For years, that mark seemed almost unreachable. Now, Salah — a winger by trade — has matched it, writing his own chapter in a very different footballing era.
When Salah arrived at Anfield in 2017, few imagined such an outcome. His first attempt at Premier League life with Chelsea had been underwhelming, and though his talent was obvious in Italy, doubts lingered about whether he could succeed in England’s demanding top flight. Those doubts have long since vanished. Across eight seasons with Liverpool, Salah has not only thrived but redefined what a wide forward can be. Averaging more than 20 league goals a season, he has become the heartbeat of a team that has lifted the Premier League, the Champions League, and much more.
His journey mirrors Liverpool’s resurgence. Just as Salah has risen into the pantheon of Premier League icons, the club itself has reclaimed its status among Europe’s elite. Every milestone he reaches is entwined with the Reds’ modern era of success.
The company Salah now keeps underlines the magnitude of the feat. Alan Shearer’s 260 goals remain untouchable at the summit. Harry Kane’s 213 are frozen after his move to Bayern Munich. Wayne Rooney’s 208 sit third, within striking distance. And now Salah, level with Cole, is firmly in pursuit.
What makes the achievement even more extraordinary is his position. Unlike Shearer, Kane, or Cole, Salah has spent most of his career operating from the right flank. He has thrived not by being a traditional penalty-box predator, but by cutting inside, exploiting spaces, and producing goals from all angles. His evolution from a direct winger into a complete forward has been central to his enduring impact.
At 33, Salah shows little sign of slowing down. His sharpness in pre-season and early goals suggest he remains as dangerous as ever. Closing the 21-goal gap to Rooney is not just possible, but probable within the next two seasons. Should he overtake the Manchester United legend, Salah would become the first African player to sit in the Premier League’s top three scorers of all time — a landmark moment both for him and for the continent he represents.
But Salah’s legacy extends beyond statistics. His rise has inspired a generation of players from Africa and the Middle East, proving that talent from those regions can dominate the very highest levels. His story has expanded Liverpool’s global reach, connecting millions of new fans to the club through pride in their “Egyptian King.”
Anfield provided the perfect setting for this milestone — the stadium that has witnessed most of his 187 goals and where his bond with the supporters runs deepest. Against Bournemouth, the crowd roared as they have so many times before, knowing they were watching history in motion.
For Salah, this is not the end but another landmark on an extraordinary journey. Shearer’s record may remain a mountain too steep, but Salah has never been one to accept limits. His latest strike — simple in execution, immense in meaning — is proof that his reign as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever scorers is still far from its conclusion.
The Egyptian King stands tall, level with Cole. The story goes on.
