NO ORDINARY MO
MO SALAH is proving his world-class pedigree – by resisting the temptation to act like a superstar.
That was the message from Jurgen Klopp as he took aim at critics starting to question the Liverpool icon’s contribution.
Salah has scored just twice this season, prompting suggestions he is misfiring or even trying too hard to replicate his record-breaking form of last term.
Yet the Reds boss said that he could not be happier with Salah, describing the Egyptian’s displays in the last two games – against Tottenham in the Premier League and Paris Saintscoring, Germain in the Champions League – as among the best of his Liverpool career.
And that, he said, is because Salah knows that to be worldclass, work ethic comes above superstar status.
“The PSG game was one of his best, 100 per cent,” said Klopp.
“Defensively, he was outstanding the last two games. I’ve said a few times, without the three forwards in running mode, we have no chance.
“These things are so important. People say you are a world-class player, but you still have to defend like in the first game of your career. You need to be brave for that.”
Ironically, Klopp is considering giving Salah a rest against Southampton today, suggesting it is time to offer Xherdan Shaqiri his first start.
“Everyone loves Shaq – without playing plenty of minutes. That is more my mistake than his. He has done everything to play. I made different decisions, but his time will come, that is for sure,” Klopp said.
But the German also recognises Salah has worked harder than at any time in his Liverpool career to offer defensive resilience and attacking threat and so needs a break.
“Mo knows that I am more than happy with him in this moment,” he added. “There is no doubt about that. “Bobby [Firmino] took a while before he got credit for his work rate. I don’t want to make defenders out of them, but they have to be in the right position. “On the defensive side, perfect, and it is so important in these games, especially as that says everything about him – that he is ready to work for the team.”
Klopp insisted he does not need to speak to Salah to stop him being anxious about because he knows the goals will come. It’s much too early to be thinking about something like that and you have to make a big thing of it,” he said of the claim Salah is trying too hard to score.
“Last year, three in six, this year two in six. Wow, that’s a crisis. Yes, there were a few chances where he could have scored. But last year he missed chances. It’s much too early to make something of it and talk to him constantly about what and when and stuff like that.
“So long as he is working as he is, everything will be fine.
“Will it be 40 at the end of the season? Nobody knows. But we don’t have to talk about this even though everyone else does. And that’s why we don’t do it.”