Mohamed Salah has the chance to etch his name into Liverpool’s Champions League history books yet again when the Reds welcome Atletico Madrid to Anfield on Tuesday night.
Liverpool begin their 2025/26 campaign against Diego Simeone’s side after topping their league-phase group last season. For Mohamed Salah, though, the spotlight won’t just be on helping his team get off to a winning start — it will also be about personal history.
The Egyptian forward has already cemented his legacy as Liverpool’s all-time leading scorer in the competition, but another milestone now beckons. Should he start against Atletico, Salah will make his 74th Champions League appearance for the club, surpassing Steven Gerrard’s tally of 73. That would leave him second only to Jamie Carragher, who leads the list with 80 appearances.
It’s yet another reminder of Salah’s longevity and consistency in Europe. Since joining Liverpool in 2017, the forward has been at the heart of their biggest European nights — from the 2019 triumph in Madrid to countless clutch goals in knockout ties.
This season hasn’t started in vintage Salah fashion, however. He has two goals and an assist from his first four Premier League games, and though he did break a six-year drought with a late penalty at Burnley, critics have noted he is still finding his rhythm in a slightly reshaped Liverpool side.
Still, his Champions League record speaks for itself. Mohamed Salah, 33, may not have the explosive pace of his younger years, but his ability to rise on big occasions and his sharpness in front of goal remain intact.
Surpassing Gerrard will be more than just a statistic. Gerrard is a club icon who defined an era of European football at Anfield, and for Salah to now move past him is a testament to his own era-defining impact. With Carragher’s record only six games away, the forward could realistically finish this campaign as Liverpool’s outright leader in Champions League appearances.
Behind Mohamed Salah, the list of European stalwarts includes John Arne Riise (68), Sami Hyypiä (66), and Pepe Reina (56). Current stars Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson are also climbing the ranks and could soon join the top ten.
