Salah was not alone in finding sightings of goal elusive

Pep Guardiola feared the worst. Just a matter of minutes had elapsed, but the Manchester City manager had his hands raised to his head already anticipating that same throaty eruption at Anfield he has come to dread.

A header from Joe Gomez invited Mohamed Salah to surge forward and, despite John Stones moving across to confront him, the Egyptian’s trickery and control bought an opening and the space in which he could unleash a drive.

Last season, Salah scored from 35, six and nine yards in three consecutive matches against City to emerge as Liverpool’s talisman and their rivals’ nemesis.

This was admittedly a more difficult opportunity and he rather scuffed his attempt, dragging the effort a couple of yards wide. On the touchline, Guardiola