If Mohamed Salah was writing his farewell letter to the Merseyside Derby, he couldn't have scripted it any better.

The Egyptian king rolled back the years at Goodison Park, opening the scoring with the kind of clinical finish that has tormented Everton for the best part of eight seasons. That trademark composure in the box, the unerring ability to find space when it matters most, the inevitable celebration in front of the away end.

This felt like vintage Salah. The big occasion specialist doing what he does best when Liverpool needed him most.

With contract talks still at an impasse and his future beyond this season far from certain, every Derby appearance could now carry extra weight. The thought of Salah in different colours next season remains almost unthinkable for most Reds, but football has a habit of making the unthinkable reality.

What made this performance even more special was how effortless it looked. At 32, questions persist about whether Salah can maintain his extraordinary standards. Matches like this provide the most emphatic answer possible.

Everton, for their part, offered little resistance once Liverpool found their rhythm. The Blues' struggles continue, and watching Salah ghost past their defence with such ease only highlighted the gulf between these two clubs right now.

Liverpool's victory keeps them firmly in the title hunt, but it was Salah's individual brilliance that will linger longest in the memory. Whether this was a farewell performance or simply another chapter in an already legendary Anfield story, only time will tell.

For now, Liverpool can savour another Derby day triumph built on the shoulders of their Egyptian maestro.

Original reporting by Anfield Index.