SALAH FORCED OFF IN TEARS AS INJURY ROCKS LIVERPOOL'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL QUEST
As Salah attempted to evade the clutches of the Spain international defender, both men ended up on the turf.
The Liverpool man came off worse and was eventually forced to accept that he could not carry on. The club confirmed at half-time that Salah had suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder.
Ramos had got hold of Salah’s arm during an unfortunate coming together, but the inflicting of a game-ending injury was entirely unintentional.
That, though, is of no comfort to the 25-year-old star who had been hoping to light up the grandest of sporting occasions, nor the Liverpool supporters who were looking to their Player of the Year to deliver the goods once more
Sergio Ramos is a thug. To clearly target a fellow professional player with the aim of injuring him early in a Champions League final, ahead of a World Cup... Words fail me
Sergio Ramos is a thug. To clearly target a fellow professional player with the aim of injuring him early in a Champions League final, ahead of a World Cup... Words fail me
Salah was unable to hide his emotions once it dawned on him that the biggest night of his career to date was over, with the tears flowing as he headed towards the touchline.
Adam Lallana was introduced in his place, with Jurgen Klopp forced into an early tactical rethink.
Former Reds captain Steven Gerrard told BT Sporton an untimely setback for a side he skippered to glory in 2005: "It’s a huge blow for Mo individually and the effect it’s had on everyone out there has been really big. Madrid have grown in confidence since then. Liverpool were excellent in the first 20-25 minutes when Madrid couldn’t get out."
Salah was not the only star turn to see their final showing ended by injury, though, with Madrid defender Dani Carvajal enduring a similar fate shortly afterwards.
He was also forced to head off before half-time, with more tears on show from a performer who had entered the contest with such high hopes.
Both Salah and Carvajal will be hoping that their respective problems are not too serious, with the pair having been included in the squads of Egypt and Spain, respectively, ahead of World Cup 2018.
The latter did, however, appear to be struggling with a hamstring complaint and will be a serious doubt for the 2010 world champions.
This isn’t how such a brilliant season was meant to end. Salah has obliterated goalscoring records, won individual accolades and captured the imagination of football fans everywhere.
The Champions League final was his stage to complete his transformation from Chelsea reject to world-class superstar but he was denied his big moment.
And the game ended at a 3-1 as scores.
What a sad day for Liverpool
What a sad day for Liverpool
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