CALL HIM MONALDO Rush: Salah is on his way to becoming an icon like Cristiano
MO SALAH can become a global superstar like Cristiano Ronaldo, reckons Liverpool legend Ian Rush.
The Egyptian’s strike against West Brom on Saturday saw him join Ronaldo, Alan Shearer and Luis Suarez on a record 31 Premier League goals in a season.
And Salah, with 41 goals in all competitions, is also chasing down Rush’s Liverpool record of 47 in a season.
The Welshman posted that total in the 1983-84 campaign – a season that finished with Liverpool lifting the European Cup after beating Roma on penalties in the final.
Rush said yesterday:
“Salah has done it for one year, whereas Ronaldo has been doing it year in, year out.
He’s an absolutely amazing player.
“Ronaldo scores quite a lot of goals in the Champions League but looking at the domestic game, Salah is right up there with him.
“People are saying ‘Ronaldo, Messi and Salah’ now. That’s how good a season Mo Salah has had. And he can get even better.”
Salah was crowned PFA Player of the Year on Sunday, edging out Kevin De Bruyne even though Manchester City won the Premier League.
City boss Pep Guardiola was
RUSH WITH GREATNESS
unhappy with the snub but Rush said: “Salah has been the best player in the Premier League.
“De Bruyne may be a more complete player for Manchester City, but I think Salah is getting better all the time.
“Salah had an amazing season. We beat Manchester City twice and hopefully next season we can compete with them for the League.”
The Reds need their little magician (inset) to conjure up another spell tonight when they host Serie A giants Roma in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
But Rush is convinced that Salah is the man for the big stage as his confidence is still soaring – even at this late stage of the season.
“There’s a genuine chance he can beat my record, and if they do get to the final and he breaks it there, I’ll be happy. I’ll settle for that all day long.
“When he gets into the box, he reminds me of Messi when he gets on to his left foot.
“He’s playing with confidence. When I scored my goals, I went out knowing I was going to score. And I’m pretty certain he’s doing the same.
“He knows he’s going to score, not thinks it.”
››Ian Rush was in Dublin to announce a friendly between Liverpool and Napoli at Aviva Stadium on August 4. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 11am from ticketmaster.ie