My only goal is a Euro triumph
MOHAMED SALAH wants to become a Liverpool legend by winning the Champions League, not for his goal tallies.
Another strike in this routine win moved Salah to 30 Premier League goals, five clear of Harry Kane in the race for this season’s Golden Boot.
It pushed his total to 40 in all competitions, joining Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only Liverpool strikers to reach that mark.
It reinforced the growing feeling that when votes are counted for the Players’ Player of the Year award, it will be his name which comes out ahead of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
But Salah would give up all the personal recognition if it meant Liverpool triumphed in Kiev on May 26.
“If you had a choice? To win the Champions League,” he said. “Of course. I don’t care about the rest.”
And the golden boot? “I cannot lie – it is in my mind. Everyone tries to pass the ball to me to help me. I am sure that Tottenham’s players try to help Harry Kane, and Manchester City’s try to help Sergio Aguero. It’s like that, but in the end we play as a team.”
Salah needs eight goals to pass Rush’s 1983-84 record of 47. And Liverpool need six points from their closing fixtures against West Brom, Stoke, Chelsea and Brighton to ensure Champions League football next season.
Jurgen Klopp’s ideal scenario is victories in the first two and safe passage to the Kiev final.
“It is intense until the end but the boys are ready for it,” he said.
Liverpool had little trouble in easing past Bournemouth with goals from Sadio Mane, Salah and Roberto Firmino.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said: “The motivation for me is to finish as high as we can. We don’t need any more incentive than that.”