For Liverpool, Saturday’s 2-0 win against newly promoted Ipswich Town was the perfect start to the new Premier League season under new coach Arne Slot – and they owe this to the ninth goal scored by Mohamed Salah on the first matchday.

Liverpool’s legendary 32-year-old striker scored on matchday one for the ninth consecutive time. It was also his 300th goal contribution for the Reds in a total of 350 appearances. The more (some) things change, the more (others) stay the same.

“Hopefully I’ll continue for the whole season, not just the first game,” Salah joked after the match. “I always try to help the team. The most important thing is that the team wins, (but) I’m always happy to score goals and provide assists, so I have to keep going.”

With his ninth goal in the season opener, Salah leaves Egyptian winger Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer behind – all with eight goals on matchday one – and is further proof that he is one of the best strikers of all time.

It’s a long season and every player will have dips in form, but it would be foolish to bet that Salah won’t be in the running for the Golden Boot again, no matter what changes or tactical adjustments the arrival of a new manager brings.

After winning Matchday 1, Liverpool return to action against Brentford next Sunday. It will be Slot’s first regular season game at Anfield for the Reds before they face historic rivals Manchester United on September 1st before the September international break.

“Now there is a new coach, a new system,” Salah added. “It’s different for all of us, so we have to adapt. We’re just taking it step by step because some players also came back late, so we just have to get to know his style of play and enjoy the football and then we’ll see what happens in the end.”