KLOPP: SALAH DAYS ARE BACK
Reds boss says Egyptian ace is firing on all cylinders again
MOHAMED SALAH is finally back to match fitness to deliver a massive boost to liverpool’s title hopes.
The Egyptian scored the winner against Brighton as he came through his first 90 minutes in the Premier League since New Year’s Day and boss Jurgen Klopp says he is back to his top level.
The manager has managed Salah’s return because of his two hamstring injuries and he missed two-and-a-half months of the campaign due to them and the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
But Klopp says he is operating at full throttle after seeing him extend his record as the most-prolific scorer against Brighton.
Salah’s well-taken winner means he has nine goals and six assists against the Seagulls, his most against any one opponent and the most in this fixture.
He has netted 22 times and contributed 12 assists this season, meaning he has been involved in 34 goals in his 33 appearances in this campaign.
The 31-year-old has scored in his last three appearances and also has three assists.
Salah’s 12 goal attempts against Brighton were his most in a single Premier League game and the best since Zlatan Ibrahimovic managed the same tally for Manchester United against Burnley in October 2016.
He should have scored more against the Seagulls but Klopp was just grateful he took the biggest chance of the game for his goal and says he is back to full match fitness.
“Yes, playing-wise, absolutely,” said the Liverpool boss.
“Imagine if Mo would have finished off all the situations in his career, that would have been crazy numbers, so it’s fine.
“But then being that calm in the decisive moment when you have to finish the biggest chance we had, it was the best football situation we played, that then makes a real goalscorer so I’m happy.”
A fully-fit Salah is priceless for Liverpool as they enter the final lap in the title race with nine games to go, with a twopoint lead over Arsenal and three over Manchester City.
Liverpool have only held this kind of advantage at this stage of the season once before under Klopp in 2020, when they strolled the league, and it could be key.
Also crucial is Alexis Mac Allister’s form and the Argentinian World Cup winner set up Salah’s decisive strike with a perfect, incisive pass.
He richly deserved to be named Man of the Match against his former club Brighton and is enjoying a purple patch.
Mac Allister, 25, has three goals and three assists from his more advanced midfield role in his last five games and Conor Bradley says he is a “joy” to play alongside.
“He’s just an unbelievable footballer,” said the Northern Ireland star. “He’s so calm on the ball and he’s so composed.”