Mohamed Salah: Why new Liverpool deal goes beyond football

Image source, Reuters

You will get a mixture of relief and joy when you ask any fan of the club what they think of the new contract.

The "Egyptian King" was the top scorer in the premier league in his first season at the club, and he went on to help the club become European and English champion.

He has won as many plaudits for his persona and conduct off the pitch as he has for his performance on the field.

His charitable contributions have won praise and prompted a former football communications officer to remark that he has "never forgotten his roots".

Even among those who don't follow football, his act of prostrating in prayer after goals reverberated across the globe.

In 2015, two fans performing the ritual Islamic prayer, known as "salah" in Arabic, were described as a "disgrace" by one person.

Dr Solava Ibrahim, an Egyptian-British lecturer in international politics, describes the discourse about Muslims as being violent or constantly linked to terrorist attacks.

When fans started singing "if he scores another few, then I'll be Muslim as well", she said it was a huge wow moment.

She says that it was showing that he was a role model for both Arabs and UK youngsters.

Najib Al-Hakimi said he was thrilled by the song because people were looking at Muslims as if they were uneducated.

He says that he was able to change that.

Most of the youth in the local Arab community are wearing his shirt and talking about him.

Image source, Liverpool Arabic Centre

Neil said that there's definitely been an element of shifting in the area.

His actions are significant if people feel that the Muslim faith is different.

"After he prays, I like that he'll turn to celebrate with the crowd and he's also celebrating himself, which are good things."

As part of the preparation for a match, the team uses time for the player to perform religious rituals.

Jordan Henderson, the club captain, said that the team opts for non-alcoholic champagne at trophy presentations and that there is no tolerance for that within the dressing rooms.

It's a port so the city sees itself as different to the rest of the country.

Image source, PA Media

He gets a hero's reception when he is out and about in the city.

A young boy faced the force of his devotion when he ran into a lamp post while chasing a car.

The player turned back to check on Fowler after he busted his nose.

The incident shows the human touch and accessibility.

She believes that his messages get through because he is not seen as a person up in the clouds or in the elite class.

He asked his wife to accept the Golden Foot award on his behalf last year, and also appeared in a Women's Day promotional video with his oldest daughter Makka.

Dr Ibrahim says you need to see it.

The power is not just rhetoric and action. It's subtle and authentic.

Image source, @Louisfow007

A number of Brits shared their opinions about how he had "opened people up to thinking about Islam in a different way" in an academic study.

Prof Grant Jarvie, who co-authored the research for the University of Edinburgh, said that they were surprised by the impact of the study. People were positive about the player on and off the field.

He says that sport can be good for cultural relations.

In a city with Britain's oldest mosque, the player's impact in reducing Islamophobia has been described as "phenomenal" by the mayor.

Image source, Getty Images

Goals and glory have not been the only things that have happened.

During the Africa Cup of Nations, an Egyptian team-mate who apologized for committing sexual harassment should be given a second chance, according to a suggestion made by a player.

He was reminded not to use a mobile phone while driving by the police after he was filmed using a device in a car that was surrounded by fans.

With that in mind, it comes as a boost for the city.

The region was a key part of the British Empire and later in culture and sport.

The Beatles film A Hard Day's Night has a scene in which a man is chased by fans.

It makes everything brilliant for himself and the club if he can thrive in being Muslim, Arab, Egyptian, all the different parts of his identity.

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