I WARNED DIDIER I’D BE TOP DROG

MOHAMED SALAH warned Didier Drogba in the middle of the season that he would break his Premier League goalscoring record.

Salah smashed Drogba’s tally of 29 goals from 2009-10, netting 32 top-flight goals to become the most prolific African in a Premier League season.

The Liverpool and Egypt star says he spoke to the

Chelsea legend (right) in February, when he was on the 20-goal mark, and promised him he would break his record for the

Premier League’s top-scoring African.

“When I reached 20 goals, I spoke with Didier Drogba,” said Salah. “He told me, ‘Please, break the record’ and I laughed and said, ‘No worries, I will’.”

Salah claims passing Drogba’s mark inspired him to surpass the Premier League record for a 38-game season.

“I managed that so I thought to myself, I have quite a few games to play before the end of the season, maybe I can break the all-time record. It’s a great source of joy for me.”

Salah, who claims he will recover from his shoulder injury to face Uruguay in Egypt’s opening World Cup game on Friday, thanked Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for his record-breaking campaign. He said Klopp’s attacking 4-3-3 system, with him operating on the right of their three-man forward line, suits him perfectly.

“Our style of play helps,” he said. “Jurgen Klopp often asks that I be at the heart of play and remain close to the opponent’s goal.

“He knows how to get the most from his attacking players. Just look at the amount of goals we’ve scored in the Premier League and Champions League.

“From day one, he’s considered me a friend. We are close, even though he’s the boss and I’m a player.

“The quality of my teammates and their desire to help me score has also helped in my success. Plus, I work hard every day with that desire to improve.”