Salah targets long stay, more success
Liverpool star hails impact of Henderson
LONDON: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah says he wants to remain at the Premier League champions for a long time and says the team have developed a perfect understanding.
The Egypt international, who signed a new five-year deal in 2018, was the top scorer at the club this season with 17 Premier League goals as they secured a 19th top-flight title with seven games to spare.
“I’m very happy... I can’t describe my feelings after we won the league after 30 years. I can see people’s joy and this is so important for all of us,” Salah told BeIN Sport. “I enjoy the atmosphere here... I love this place and I hope to stay for a long time. The atmosphere here is different to any other place.
“We have adapted well as a team and our understanding is perfect. If this continues, we can achieve more. It’s difficult to maintain our current level, but it’s not impossible.”
Salah hailed the impact of club captain Jordan Henderson and said he would pick the midfielder as the best player in the league this season.
“Maybe I’ll choose Henderson because he’s the captain and he’s been here for about eight-nine years. He had a difficult time in the beginning and he was heavily criticised,” he said.
“... He, as a captain, is loved by all of us and he tries to help all players and helps youth players to adapt.”
Liverpool visit second-placed Manchester City in the league today.
‘GAME-CHANGER’ FERNANDES
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Bruno Fernandes has brought a winning mentality to Manchester United after his brace inspired an impressive 3-0 win at Brighton on Tuesday.
Cajoled by the dazzling Fernandes, United produced one of their best performances of the season at the Amex Stadium.
Mason Greenwood opened the scoring early in the first half and Fernandes doubled the lead before the interval.
Fernandes netted again after halftime with a fine volley as United climbed above Wolves on goal difference to take fifth place in the Premier League.
“Bruno has come and been fantastic. He has brought that winning mentality with him, that 99 percent is not good enough. It has to be 100 percent,” Solskjaer said.
“I’ve got more than one gamechanger. The third goal was a great team goal. To see so many players sprinting forward to get on the end of it was fantastic. A great finish by Bruno.”
Solskjaer’s side are two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who were due to play their game in hand at West Ham last night.
RESULT
Brighton 0 Manchester United 3 (Greenwood 16, Fernandes 29, 50)
FIXTURES
(kick-offs Thai time)
Today
Sheffield United v Tottenham (midnight), Manchester City v Liverpool (2.15am, Fri)
STANDINGS P W D L GF GA Pts C-Liverpool 31 28 2 1 70 21 86 Man City 31 20 3 8 77 33 63 Leicester 31 16 7 8 59 29 55 Chelsea 31 16 6 9 55 41 54 Man Utd 32 14 10 8 51 31 52 Wolves 32 13 13 6 45 34 52 Tottenham 31 12 9 10 50 41 45 Burnley 32 13 6 13 36 45 45 Sheff Utd 31 11 11 9 30 31 44 Arsenal 31 10 13 8 43 41 43 Crystal Palace 32 11 9 12 28 37 42 Everton 31 11 8 12 38 46 41 Southampton 32 12 4 16 41 55 40 Newcastle 31 10 9 12 29 42 39 Brighton 32 7 12 13 34 44 33 Watford 32 6 10 16 29 49 28 West Ham 31 7 6 18 35 54 27 Bournemouth 31 7 6 18 29 50 27 Aston Villa 32 7 6 19 36 60 27 Norwich 31 5 6 20 25 56 21
Notes: C — Champions; top four qualify for Champions League (Manchester City banned from European competition for two years pending appeal verdict); fifth place qualify for Europa League; bottom three relegated