It was a bolt through the blue, a high-velocity reminder of his brilliance.
A stunning sword-thrust that emphatically announced this Premier League duel is going down to the very last attack and counter-attack.
Sadio Mane had already nodded his side into the ascendancy but then came Mohamed Salah’s strike.
The same Mohamed Salah who, apparently, has not quite been himself throughout this campaign.
The same Mohamed Salah who, apparently, was prone to the odd sulk in the early throes of this relentless Liverpool mach.
Mohamed Salah's four-word response when asked to explain Liverpool goal celebration
His purest of rising hits from 20 yards was not, strictly speaking, the game-winner.
But it was a moment symbolic of the special season unfurling at this club like a giant Kop banner.
On the touchline, Jurgen Klopp collected little Xherdan Shaqiri in his arms and hugged the warming-up sub like a happy dad.
And there was none of that mock sullen stuff from Salah, just unbridled joy and a pose for the Kop as bedlam ripped through the stadium.
Chelsea fans think they spotted Fabinho doing something disgusting to Eden Hazard
In the posh seats, Sami Hyppia shook his head in grinning disbelief, Sir Kenny Dalglish wore a smile as wide as his stand.
And while Eden Hazard and Gonzalo Higuain subsequently hit sitters against post and Alisson respectively, Salah’s sumptuous contribution went the furthest towards confirming what Pep Guardiola has long believed.
If Manchester City are to keep hold of their crown, their five-match finale will have to be unblemished.
For Liverpool, trips to Cardiff and Newcastle should not be too arduous while it would be freakish if Huddersfield took anything from their visit to Anfield and unlikely if Wolves did likewise on the last day of the season.
What Jurgen Klopp said in Liverpool changing room at half time to inspire Chelsea win
No, the mindset of Guardiola and his players is spot-on. It is a near-certainty they will need to win every one of their five matches, a run that begins with the visit of a familiar Tottenham on Saturday and is then followed by a hop across to Old Trafford on Wednesday week.
The bookies might not think so and City’s title fate does, indeed, remain in their own hands but as Klopp went through his standard, violent, air-punching routine, it felt distinctly like advantage Liverpool.
And while victory was settled by one nice goal and one sensational goal, they also had a rather lethargic, laid-back and oddly conservative Chelsea to thank.
After a first half of no particular note, Maurizio Sarri went ultra-defensive at the start of the second and paid the penalty when Jordan Henderson smuggled himself in behind the massed ranks and his cross gave Mane a headed shoo-in from six yards.
Liverpool 2-0 Chelsea: 5 talking points as Mohamed Salah magic fires Reds to win
And Klopp had barely unclenched his ball of fingers when Salah landed the knockout blow.
It was his 19th Premier League goal of the season and while Virgil van Dijk leads the Liverpool challenge for end-of-season individual accolades, Salah has also been outstanding … just not as bizarrely outstanding as last season.
On this occasion, there were also fine displays from Henderson and Fabinho here but there was a slight defensive vulnerability after the two-goal lead was secured.
With no choice left but to attack, Chelsea chances were created but Hazard and substitute Higuain produced those glaring misses, allowing Liverpool to coast through the final few minutes.
And they also allowed Klopp the luxury of withdrawing Salah late in the piece, affording him the stirring ovation his screamer and his performance deserved.
Klopp led the applause and rightly so.
This is a truly special title race we are watching between two special managers and two special teams, featuring a plethora of special players.
And few are more special than Salah.
