As the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) draws near, stars Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah bid farewell to their domestic duties in spectacular fashion. However, Nigeria’s linchpin, Wilfred Ndidi, faced a setback as he was forced to withdraw from the Super Eagles squad due to injury.

In the latest round of Premier League action during gameweek 20, fans were treated to a thrilling series of festive matches, boasting an impressive average of 3.5 goals per game and showcasing outstanding individual performances.

Mohamed Salah stole the spotlight with a brilliant display, securing a double on New Year’s Day as Liverpool triumphed 4-2 over Newcastle United, further solidifying their position at the top of the league.

Despite Salah’s mesmerizing performance, the Egyptian King encountered challenges in the first half, prompting him to change his boots at halftime after an early penalty – and its subsequent follow-up – were saved by Newcastle’s outstanding goalkeeper, Martin Dúbravka.

The first half suggested that Dúbravka could thwart anything Salah attempted, but the resilient 31-year-old refused to be disheartened. He opened the scoring in the 49th minute with a close-range finish, courtesy of an unselfish assist from Darwin Núñez.

Salah’s impressive collaboration with Diogo Jota created an opportunity for Curtis Jones to contribute another goal for Liverpool, followed by Cody Gakpo meeting a delightful cross from Salah to add a third.

As Newcastle struggled with fading resources, Salah continued to showcase his majestic and inventive skills, leaving defenders in disarray with his new boots.

Salah secured his second goal from the penalty spot, making amends for his first-half misstep after Jota was fouled (controversially) by Dubravka. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised Salah’s ability to impact and elevate his game consistently.

Despite Salah’s numerous achievements with Egypt, the AFCON title remains elusive. A potential AFCON-Premier League double would undoubtedly stand as one of the crowning achievements in Salah’s illustrious career.