Liverpool's Goal of the Month: These five February strikes make it an impossible choice

When they call for the 'Goal of the Month' on German telly, it's a proper family affair. But over on Merseyside, they've got a hotly contested vote of their own – and Liverpool FC have just kicked it off. We're talking about the Goal of the Month for February. And fair dinkum, the selection has rarely been this tough. We aren't chatting about tap-ins or flukey own goals, no way, we're talking about moments of brilliance, long-range belters and dribbles that'd have even opposition fans off their seats.

The picture above might show the contenders for Player of the Month, but the real passion of the fans often ignites around the goals. And in February, the Reds served up a whole collection of strikes worthy of the 'world-class' tag. Whether it was the Premier League or the Champions League – Jürgen Klopp's mob didn't just deliver results, they served up pure footballing bliss.

The five contenders for Liverpool's Goal of the Month

The official shortlist makes any football romantic's heart skip a beat. I've had another look at the contenders in slow-mo – here's my personal tribute to these five absolute ripper goals.

• Mohamed Salah: His overhead kick at Wolves. A cross from Robertson, the Egyptian launches himself through the air and hammers it into the bottom left corner, no chance for the keeper. That's not just Goal of the Month, that's a contender for Goal of the Year. The body control is just unbelievable!
• Cody Gakpo: A solo effort against Aston Villa. The Dutchman danced past three defenders like they were training cones and then coolly slotted it into the far post. Technically, it was an absolute treat – brought back memories of a young Ryan Giggs.
• Darwin Núñez: A 35-metre thunderbolt in the FA Cup. Alright, it might not have been the most delicate strike, more of a power play – but the ball flew like a laser-guided missile under the crossbar. Sometimes you just need that Goal of the Month material that rattles the back of the net.
• Alexis Mac Allister: A free kick against Luton Town. 20 metres out, just to the left – the Argentine bent the ball perfectly into the top corner. Unstoppable, unreachable, unforgettable. Pure precision.
• Luis Díaz: His chip after a through ball from Szoboszlai. The Colombian sent the rushing keeper diving at fresh air and then almost cheekily lobbed it into the net. It's a goal you can watch over and over – just pure class.

See what I mean? Every single strike is a little gem. No wonder the debate is raging on social media. "Salah's overhead was absolute scenes," writes one punter. "Gakpo's dribble was pure poetry," fires back the next. And then there's the bloke celebrating Núñez's rocket. I'm telling you: Goal of the Month – there's genuinely something here for everyone.

What makes this vote special for us Aussies

Sure, we've got a soft spot for this Liverpool team, forged by Jürgen Klopp. But it's about more than just sentiment. Looking at these contenders, any one of them could feature in a goal of the month comp here. Imagine if Salah's overhead was scored in the A-League – it'd be an instant favourite. That's why it's twice as interesting to see how the Liverpool fans vote: do they love the flair, the power, or the finesse?

Vote before Sunday

The vote's open until this Sunday. You can pick your favourite on the club's official website. Next week, we'll find out if the punters have the same taste as the experts – or if there's a massive upset on the cards.

Personally, I've got my fingers crossed for Gakpo. But with a shortlist like this, I wouldn't be surprised if Salah takes the cake. Or could a dark horse like Mac Allister pop up? One thing's for sure: it's going to be tight. So, footy fans, have a look at the highlights and chuck your vote in. Because good football knows no borders – and Liverpool's Goal of the Month might just get your heart racing too.

Here's to many more dream goals – and may the best one win!