In this column, we track the best Arab football talents plying their trade in the Premier League and round-up their accomplishments every week.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is never far from the headlines after a promising start to the season for the Reds, and he features again this week after bagging a brace against West Ham.
Meanwhile, Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez scored in Leicester’s 2-2 draw at Stoke and Ramadan Sobhi shone in his 68 minute display at the bet365 Stadium.
Here’s a look at how these Arab footballers fared this weekend.
MOHAMED SALAH | WEST HAM 1-4 LIVERPOOL
Salah produced a man-of-the-match display in Liverpool’s comprehensive 4-1 win at West Ham.
The Egyptian was outstanding for Jurgen Klopp’s men, scoring two goals and looking a dangerous presence on and off the ball.
With seven goals and two assists in the opening 11 Premier League games, the 25-year-old continues to prove why he is Liverpool’s best goalscorer since Luis Suarez.
Aside from his brace at the London Stadium, he was involved in an outrageous piece of play towards the end of the first-half, when he outpaced Aaron Cresswell and dinked a cleverly-weighted pass into the penalty area.
Rating – 8/10
KEY STATS
Minutes – 90
Goals – 2
Shots – 3
Shots on target – 3
Key Passes – 3
Passing Accuracy – 65.5%
Touches – 46
Passes – 29
Mo Salah.
RIYAD MAHREZ | STOKE 2-2 LEICESTER
It was another vintage performance from Mahrez as he earned Leicester a much deserved point at Stoke.
The Algerian whipped in a corner that led to Vicente Iborra’s opening goal after 33 minutes, and scored a sumptuous effort of his own after 60 minutes.
Collecting possession inside the half-way line, the 26-year-old came barrelling through the middle, fended off a weak challenge from Eric Pieters and unleashed a powerful shot into the far corner.
Stoke did draw level through Peter Crouch with 17 minutes remaining, but overall, the Foxes talisman Mahrez was central to securing Claude Puel’s men a positive result on the road.
Rating – 8/10
KEY STATS
Minutes – 90
Shots – 6
Shots on target – 2
Key Passes – 1
Passing Accuracy – 81%
Touches – 70
Passes – 42
Riyad Mahrez.
RAMADAN SOBHI | STOKE 2-2 LEICESTER
Fresh off the back of a solid performance against Watford last week, Sobhi featured for 68 minutes in the Potters’ 2-2 draw against Leicester on Saturday.
With a pass accuracy of 86.5%, the Egyptian looked composed on the ball and always made the right decision as his side attempted to cut down the influence of a pacey Leicester attack.
Although he has made just four Premier League appearances this season, the 20-year-old remains a sparkling option from the bench – despite Joe Allen and Xherdan Shaqiri considered preferred choices in the various attacking roles.
Rating – 6/10
KEY STATS
Minutes – 68
Shots – 0
Key Passes – 0
Passing Accuracy – 86.7%
Touches – 24
Passes – 15
Tackles – 2
Ramadan Sobhi.