Football fans have aired a theory behind Mohamed Salah’s seemingly spontaneous selfie celebration with Liverpool fans after scoring in the Reds’ 5-1 win to seal the Premier League title.
The Anfield club clinched a record-equaling 20th top flight title on Sunday after thumping Tottenham on Merseyside, as goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Salah and an own goal made for a perfect day.
The Egyptian, who tops the standings for both goals and assists and is just one involvement away from tying the all-time Premier League single-season record, was desperate to get his name on the scoresheet.
And when the moment arrived in the 63rd minute, he radically altered his celebration. The 32-year-old, who recently penned a big-money two-year extension to remain with the club until 2027, grabbed a phone from what looked to be a fan in the crowd before posing for a selfie in front of jubilant supporters.
However, on further inspection, the forward was in fact handed the phone by a women in club gear with what appeared to be an accreditation around her neck, while the seemingly innocuous mobile was the Google Pixel 9, the flagship device belonging to one of the club’s major sponsors.
Many fans voiced their displeasure at what they claimed was a marketing stunt on social media, with many airing their scepticism around the celebration.
Football fans have questioned the sponteneity behind Salah’s selfie with Liverpool fans
The Egyptian was handed the device by a women decked in club gear on the side of the pitch
The Anfield club announced a ‘long-term partnership’ with Google Pixel in 2023
‘Someone who works for the club passing him the phone they have been advertising… it’s so staged, nothing authentic about them,’ wrote the user All Everton on X, which goes some way to explaining their fury.
‘A goal in the game that wins you the title, just go f***ing mad. That’s embarrassing.’
Another wrote: ‘Salah selling out by performing a pre-planned goal celebration by taking a photo on a Google Pixel phone instead of living in the moment.. is such a perfect reflection of LFC & its camera wielding fanbase.’
‘He got the sponsor moment for the Google Pixel 9,’ noted a third on the platform.
A fourth user added: ‘Salah with the Google Pixel out again taking a photo with the Liverpool squad this time. Can we all accept that it was a well choreographed advert now?’
The Anfield club announced a ‘long-term partnership’ with Google Pixel in 2023.
Announcing the deal, a statement on the club’s website read: ‘LFC and Google Pixel will work with the club’s men’s and women’s teams to create exclusive content as well as deeper, tech-driven experiences, using Google’s AI-powered camera features on the device to amplify fan experiences across Anfield and Prenton Park, as well as for fans watching at home.’
After the final whistle on Sunday, Salah was seen on photography duty once more, taking centre stage for a series of photos of the whole squad as they celebrated their historic triumph.
Some fans were clearly angered by the stunt and voiced their displeasure on social media
After the final whistle on Sunday, Salah was seen on photography duty once more, taking centre stage for a series of photos of the whole squad
Post match, Salah insisted this season’s title party was ‘way better’ compared to the Covid-affected 2019-20 campaign, saying: ‘Without Sadio [Mane], without Jurgen, without Bobby [Firmino] – without everybody it feels more special.
‘We have a different group now, different manager. To be able to do it again is something special.’
Reds boss Arne Slot later lifted the lid on his own plans – and revealed how many beers he will drink.
‘The only moment I was emotional today was when we arrived at the stadium,’ he said. ‘You could see what it meant for the people. Everyone inside the bus felt a responsibility. It was impossible for us to lose this game of football.’
He then added: ‘I will probably celebrate with a glass of beer or two, or three.’
Anfield was a cauldron of noise throughout the raucous 90 minutes and the atmosphere reached fever pitch outside of the ground, too.
Thousands of supporters packed the streets while others scaled the railings by the Kop, waved scarves from the rooftops and even climbed onto a passing Greggs van to get the best view of the red sea which stretched all the way down Anfield Road.
In some places, thick clouds of red smoke prevented people from seeing further than just a few metres in front of them, as the festivities stretched long into the evening.
