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Mohamed Salah scores, but Wigan hold Liverpool to draw

The flying Egyptian got off the mark with an easy finish!

Mohamed Salah scores, but Wigan hold Liverpool to draw

Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah (Photo: www.liverpoolfc.com)

Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool debut was a fruitful one for the Egyptian winger as he scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against League One side Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium in Greater Manchester. 

After thrashing non-league team Tranmere Rovers 4-0 on Thursday, Jurgen Klopp’s men were looking to continue their winning start to pre-season but despite dominating the hosts, found themselves behind with less than half an hour played. 

Salah, Liverpool's record-signing, had started brightly and came close to scoring in the first minute itself, but hit the side-netting from a tight angle, much to the relief of the home crowd. 

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With Sadio Mane missing in action, Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Salah all started and their pace coupled with some deft touches were causing Wigan all sorts of problems.

Wigan had chances of their own on the counter as Liverpool’s defence looked shaky and it seemed only a matter of time before the Latics would breach Simon Mignolet’s goal.

After Liverpool made a hash of a clearance inside the box, the ball fell to Alex Gilbey and the midfielder fired home in the 21st minute, with Mignolet unsighted and reacting to the shot far too late.

The shock goal spurred the Reds into a frenzy as they launched wave after wave of attacks but Paul Cook’s men looked resolute in defence. 

Coutinho had a swerving shot from distance parried to safety by the Wigan keeper but it was Firmino’s shocking miss after a sweeping move that had many looking on with disbelief. 

Salah, Coutinho and Lallana were all involved in the build-up and as the Englishman laid it on a plate for Firmino, Liverpool’s No.9 somehow contrived to send the ball well wide with only the keeper to beat. 

Liverpool, however, weren't to be denied and as Coutinho picked a Wigan defender’s pockets before releasing Firmino, who in turn laid it on a plate for Salah to tap-in seconds before half-time.

Klopp made a host of changes for the second-half, with the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Sheyi Ojo featuring. 

Dejan Lovren came close to finding the second goal but his looping header grazed the post, but the best chance of the half fell to Sturridge. 

The English striker had Jordan Henderson running alongside him but chose to shoot rather than pass to his teammate in the better position.

James Milner made one final attempt at goal, but the Wigan goalkeeper was in inspired form and easily gathered the veteran’s shot and ensure the spoils were shared. 

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