Soccer ace Salah sets Champions League record for fastest hat-trick

Mohamed Salah came on as a substitute to score the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history in Liverpool’s 7-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox.

The Egyptian led his team 3-1 late on Wednesday and set a new standard in the competition with a stunning high note in just 6 minutes and 12 seconds.

Bafetimbi Gomis held the record for taking eight minutes to score a hat-trick in Lyon’s 7-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.

But Salah beat that time with a brilliant contribution and after walking away with the match ball in Glasgow and sealing a confidence-boosting win for Liverpool, Liverpool are in a strong position to advance to the round of 16.

It was the night Roberto Firmino looked like a hero.

Salah, however, scored an excellent three goals to ensure they dominated the headlines.

Jürgen Klopp chose to take full control of his team and make the change after Nunez scored 3-1 in the 66th minute.

Salah stabbed Liverpool’s quarter in the 75th minute and curled another one in the 80th minute. He accomplished his trick on the Hutt with another clinical strike a minute later.

Another substitute, Harvey Elliott, finished scoring in 87th place.

The Rangers remained stunned after dominating early play.

Usual slow start

Klopp’s team selection is part of the reaction to the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip and Luis Diaz to injuries in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Arsenal as the Reds lift themselves from the top of the Premier League table. We were already 14 points away.

When Arfield’s run went untracked from midfield and the former Canadian international produced a fine finish to find the bottom corner, the visitors made a habit of slow starts this season, falling behind eight times in twelve games.

Lucky for last season’s Champions League finalists, a 24th-minute equalizer exposed the Rangers’ own defensive weaknesses.

The Scottish giants have escaped a crushing 2-0 defeat at Anfield a week ago thanks to a heroic performance from goalkeeper Alan McGregor.

However, with a much improved performance, they surprised Liverpool in the lead after 17 minutes.

Fabio Carvalho lost the ball in his own half and Scott Arfield fired a low shot past goalkeeper Alisson on the edge of the area.

It could have been even better for the home side when Antonio-Mirko Colak cut Joe Gomez’s loose back pass but could not find a finish.

Liverpool equalized against the tide of play in the 24th minute when Firmino headed into a corner from Konstantinos Tsimikas at the near post.

Liverpool took the lead ten minutes into the second half when Gomes’ curled cross was home again by Firmino.

From there the visitors took control and the Brazilian’s beautiful backheel put Nunez’s shot to take a 3-1 lead.

Nunez’s goal was linked to the home side’s poor defense, while Salah was given one gift after another from the bench in the final 22 minutes.

Salah’s incredible treble has seen him score 38 Champions League goals for Liverpool. This surpassed his 36 goals from Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, more than any player from any English club in the competition.

Source: TRTWorld and institutions