On Tuesday night, Mohamed Salah faced his former club, Roma in the Champions League.  It was a massive occasion for the player and despite scoring two goals in the first leg at Anfield, Salah could not influence proceedings in the same way at the Stadio Olimpico.

Returning to play at former clubs can be difficult for some players, especially if they have built up a bond with the current players and fans.

Top Four at Stake

source: theweek.co.uk

This weekend, Salah faces another of his former teams as Liverpool travel to play Chelsea in the Premier League.  The match will be played on Sunday and could have huge ramifications for which teams finish in the top four.

Chelsea will start the game in fifth place but know a win could see them take it to the last match of the season.  Liverpool knows if they win the Champions League final, they are guaranteed a place in the Champions League next season but they face the might of Real Madrid in the final.

This is going to be a massive game for Salah at Stamford Bridge because not only is he returning to the team which first brought him to English football but there is a place in the top four on the line.

Chelsea Return

source: The Anfield Wrap

When Salah steps onto the pitch at Chelsea on Sunday, he will do so as the PFA Player of the Year.  However, during his time at Stamford Bridge, Salah was nowhere near winning this award.  The Egyptian struggled to make any sort of impact at Chelsea and on the Premier League.

After just one year at the club, Salah went to Italy and played on loan at both Fiorentina and Roma before joining the latter in a permanent deal.  Salah’s performances in the Italian capital were enough to persuade Liverpool to part with £34 million for his services.

Plenty of Promise

source: Eurosport.com

When Salah joined Chelsea, the manager at the time was Jose Mourinho and he spoke with great excitement when the forward joined the club.  Mourinho said, “He’s young, he’s fast, he’s creative, he’s enthusiastic,” before adding, “We analysed him and he looks the kind of humble personality on the pitch, ready to work for the team and to work and to adapt himself to a new life.”

However, changes in the starting XI were few and far between for Salah and having come on at half-time in the 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City, Mourinho said, “He was not in the game against Manchester City.  He has that pace but he was not in the game.”

Mourinho said he was confident Salah would make the breakthrough at Chelsea but it failed to materialise and have fallen behind in the pecking order for the attacking positions, Salah was loaned out to Fiorentina.

Salah played just 19 times in his first year at Chelsea but showed signs of improvement in Italy.  It was enough to tempt Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool to bring him back to the Premier League.

Salah will return to Stamford Bridge this weekend, eager to show the Chelsea fans what they could have had.

source featured image: theweek.co.uk