On red alert

Hunt and Robbie Fowler – and could plausibly score more league goals in a single top-flight campaign than Ian Rush.

For Jurgen Klopp, the Salah show is a thrill and an ever-so-slight (but welcome) irritation. Managers zealously avoid lauding individuals

‘Mo Salah, this season, has been unbelievable – he is doing it every week without fail’

above the collective. Klopp’s decision to linger when issuing thanks to the other scorer, Firmino, for example, seemed deliberate – an acknowledgement that the application of all is facilitating Salah’s deeds.

The contrast between the Salah at Chelsea, Roma and Liverpool is also a tribute to Klopp’s coaching. “Nobody could know [that he could play as a striker]. We learnt it step by step,” admitted Klopp, who joked that he, too, once scored four in a game.

“We didn’t know exactly that he’s [capable] of playing in the centre. It was early. Without consistency we couldn’t know, but in the preseason we knew.

“But we will not treat him like, ‘You don’t have to train, Mo – just come on Saturday for the game and we’ll see you there at Anfield or whatever’. He doesn’t want that.”

Of course the La Liga giants are watching.

The difference from the cases of Suarez and Philippe Coutinho is they admired from afar.

With Liverpool equipped to annually make the final stages of the Champions League, performances such as this might ensure they get a closer look at Salah sooner than they think.