Mohamed Salah’s goal celebration during Liverpool’s emphatic 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur has quickly become one of the Premier League’s most talked-about moments.
After netting Liverpool’s fourth goal at Anfield, the Egyptian star grabbed a phone from a staff member and snapped a selfie with cheering fans in the background a moment that exploded across social media.
The image, shared by both Salah and Liverpool, has garnered millions of likes and views.
However, it also raised eyebrows, as the phone he used was a Google Pixel one of Liverpool’s official sponsors.
This sparked speculation that the celebration may have been a pre-planned marketing stunt.
Salah addressed the moment with BBC Sport, saying, “At the beginning of the season I always take selfies with players [who score], so for this one I said, ‘OK, I have to think of something special because it’s a picture that’s going to be there forever.’”
While initial reports suggested Salah took a fan’s phone, it was later confirmed it came from a Liverpool staff member behind the advertising boards.
Critics questioned the motive, but supporters noted that it was impossible to predict Salah would score although he has now reached 33 goals this season.
Despite potential concerns over delayed play, referee Thomas Bramall didn’t penalize Salah. Teammate Cody Gakpo, in contrast, received a yellow for removing his shirt during his celebration.
BBC Sport has contacted Liverpool and the FA for comment. While advertising regulations exist, there appears to be no rule explicitly forbidding such actions, even if they serve promotional purposes.
Salah joins a short list of footballers including Francesco Totti and Mario Balotelli who’ve celebrated goals with selfies, but few have done it with such cultural impact.
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