The Egyptian forward, who spent nine years at Liverpool before departing Anfield this summer, marked his third official appearance for his Turkish club with a match-winning display. Salah struck twice to guide Trabzonspor to a 2-1 triumph over Basaksehir, although two of his other efforts were ruled out during the contest.
The 32-year-old had previously featured in a 1-1 league draw at Kasimpasa and also played in the Europa League play-off first leg against Ferencvaros. Turkish publication Sozcu had previously offered a scathing assessment, suggesting supporters felt the signing was a mistake and that the player was well short of his peak form. The same newspaper described his initial performances as failing to meet expectations at the Akyazi Stadium.
Sports outlet Fanatik had similarly voiced concerns following his early outings. However, the narrative shifted dramatically following Sunday’s heroics, with numerous publications reversing their earlier positions.
Spor Arena highlighted the forward’s impact, noting he found the net in the eighth and forty-eighth minutes and played a pivotal role in securing victory. The outlet emphasised his left-footed strike as particularly impressive and described him as instrumental in maintaining possession. The publication also acknowledged a teammate’s contribution to the second goal.
The Turkish newspaper Sozcu credited Salah as the mastermind behind the success, labelling him the most influential player on the pitch. Their report detailed how he tested the opposition goalkeeper with five attempts, four of which were on target, and also created six scoring opportunities for colleagues. The article further noted his pass completion rate of 68 percent in the final third and his success rate with crosses and dribbles.
Canli Yayin ran their coverage under the headline celebrating Trabzonspor’s opening league win, describing how the Egyptian international led his side to all three points with his first goals for the club.
Fanatik offered enthusiastic acclaim, particularly noting how his second strike bore the hallmarks of his Merseyside career. The newspaper stated that while statistics cannot fully capture his influence, the forward fundamentally altered the team’s confidence and overall tempo. The report concluded that exceptional players do not merely fit into tactical systems but instead elevate those around them.