It happens in a split second. A blur of red and white, a desperate lunge, and suddenly the most valuable left foot in Egypt is tangled in a heap on the grass.
When you see Mo Salah getting tackled, your heart kinda stops for a second if you're a Liverpool fan. It’s not just about a foul. It's about the sheer physics of a 33-year-old winger still trying to burn defenders while every center-back in the Premier League has a literal target on his shins.
Honestly, the way people talk about Salah being "fragile" or "diving" is wild when you look at the actual beatings he takes.
The Reality of the Sergio Ramos "Judo Move"
We have to talk about Kiev. You can't mention a tackle on Salah without the 2018 Champions League Final looming like a ghost.
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That wasn't just a tackle; it was a cultural reset for Egyptian football fans. Sergio Ramos basically locked Salah's arm and used his own body weight to drive him into the turf. The medical diagnosis was a sprained shoulder ligament, but the emotional damage to that Liverpool run was way worse.
People still argue about whether Ramos meant it. Was it a masterclass in "dark arts" or just a messy collision? Most strikers will tell you: defenders don't hold your arm all the way to the ground by accident.
That single moment changed how Salah played for years. He became more aware. He started using his upper body strength—which is underrated, by the way—to shield the ball before the contact even arrives.
Why the Hamza Choudhury Challenge Was Different
Flash forward to 2019. Leicester City. Hamza Choudhury flies in with a challenge that Jurgen Klopp famously called "dangerous as hell."
This one was different because the ball was barely there. It was a cynical, late swipe at the ankles. These are the ones that actually shorten careers. While the Ramos hit was about leverage, the Choudhury tackle was about raw impact.
Salah limped off. The stadium went quiet. It’s these specific types of tackles that have forced Arne Slot to manage Salah’s minutes so carefully in the 2025/26 season.
The Numbers Behind the Bruises
Let’s look at the actual stats because the "diver" narrative is mostly nonsense.
In the 2024/25 season, Salah was fouled 39 times in the Premier League. Compare that to the current 2025/26 campaign where he’s already drawn over 12 fouls in just 14 appearances. He isn't going down because he wants to; he's going down because he’s being hacked.
The interesting thing is his "foul committed" stat. He rarely fouls back. He’s basically a punching bag that occasionally scores world-class goals.
- Career Fouls Drawn: Over 230 in the Premier League alone.
- Injury Record: Remarkably clean, despite the high-intensity tackles.
- The "Slot Era" Shift: He’s taking fewer risks in the dribble to avoid the heavy contact.
What Most People Get Wrong About Salah's "Falls"
You’ll hear rival fans screaming "he went down easy!" every time a defender breathes on him.
Here is the thing: when you are running at 34 km/h (his top speed this season), even a tiny clip on the heel sends you flying. It’s physics. If Salah didn't "go with" the tackle, his ankles would probably snap like dry twigs.
Expert analysts often point out that Salah has mastered the "safe fall." He tucks his shoulder—lesson learned from Ramos—and rolls to dissipate the kinetic energy. It looks dramatic, sure. But it’s survival.
The 2026 Context: A Return From Injury
Right now, as we hit mid-January 2026, the conversation is shifting. Salah has been sidelined recently, and Arne Slot just confirmed his return date ahead of the Burnley match.
The tension is high. Every time he faces a tackle in his first game back, the Anfield crowd is going to gasp. Liverpool is currently 11 matches unbeaten, but they look a lot less scary without Salah stretching the backline.
When a player like Salah gets tackled after a layoff, the risk of a secondary injury is massive. It’s not just the impact; it’s the way the muscles react to the sudden, violent stop.
How to Watch Salah's Movement Like an Expert
If you want to see if Salah is actually "back" to 100%, don't look at the goals. Look at how he receives the ball with his back to the defender.
- The Arm Bar: Watch his right arm. He uses it to create a "buffer zone" so the defender can’t get close enough to trip him.
- The Low Center of Gravity: Notice how he bends his knees right before impact. This is how he rides tackles that would floor smaller players.
- The Spin: If he feels a tackle coming from the left, he spins clockwise. This uses the defender's momentum against them.
Salah isn't just a goalscorer; he's a guy who has spent a decade learning how to not get broken in half by 200-pound defenders.
Protect Your Ankles Like a Pro
Whether you're playing Sunday League or just watching from the couch, there are a few takeaways from how world-class players handle physicality.
First, never plant your foot firmly if you see a sliding tackle coming. A "floating" foot might lead to a trip, but a planted foot leads to a break. Second, invest in high-quality shin guards that cover the lower ankle bone—it's the most vulnerable spot for wingers.
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Finally, understand that being "tackled" is part of the job. The goal isn't to avoid the contact entirely; it's to control how you land. Salah is still at the top of his game at 33 because he’s a genius at falling safely.
Keep an eye on the Burnley game. If Salah is skipping over challenges and drawing those tactical yellows, you know he’s truly recovered. If he’s hesitant to go 1v1, the "Ramos effect" might still be lingering in the back of his mind.