We’re lucky to have Salah – Klopp

LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah’s superb campaign with Liverpool shows he has “grown up” after the forward was voted the 2018 Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association.

The Egypt international narrowly topped the poll of the 400-strong FWA membership ahead of Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, the margin understood to be fewer than 20 votes.

Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane was in third place.

Salah, 25, struggled to make an impact during his first spell in England at Chelsea, but has scored 43 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions for Klopp’s side this season since his summer transfer from Roma.

The Egyptian has spearheaded Liverpool’s push towards a potential place in the Champions League final – the Reds lead Roma 5-2 ahead of tonight’s semi-final second leg in Italy.

Speaking in Rome ahead of the tie, Klopp paid tribute to Salah’s impact on the team.

“He has matured, got confidence here,” the German said. “He came from Chelsea to Florence and played a good season, but not as good as the season at Roma. He grew up and became the player he is now. We are the lucky guys who have him now in the team, that is how it is.

“It is not that I have explained to him exactly how to score goals, he knew that before already, but each striker in the world does not start as an 18-year-old boy as the goalgetter – he needs to make his own experiences.

“That is what Mo did, in very difficult circumstances, coming early (in his career) from Egypt to Switzerland (with Basel), doing all that journey, carrying all that responsibility for all the people, maybe for a whole country, and he is really quite cool with it.

“He has good team-mates, they love helping him and they love how he helps them.”

Between them Salah and De Bruyne, who helped City claim the Premier League title with five games still remaining, collected more than 90 per cent of the journalists’ votes.

The 25-year-old becomes the first African winner of the prestigious FWA accolade, which has been awarded since 1948.

Yesterday’s announcement sees Salah complete a personal double having last month been named the 2017-18 Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year, also finishing ahead of De Bruyne and Kane in the vote of their peers.

Salah will be presented with the 2018 FWA Footballer of the Year trophy at The Landmark London on May 10. Chelsea and England forward Fran Kirby was last week announced as the inaugural FWA Women’s Footballer of the Year, which will be presented during the same gala dinner. FWA chairman Patrick Barclay said: “It has been the tightest call since 1968-69, when there was a dead heat between Tony Book of Manchester City and Derby’s Dave Mackay.

“Right up to the last week or so we thought it might happen again, so strong was the support for Kevin De Bruyne, but Mo Salah’s relentless match-winning form, exemplified by his two great goals against Roma, seems to have swung the vote by a very narrow margin.

“What a race it has been between two players who, in a relatively short time, have reached genuine world class, but Mo Salah is the worthiest of winners,” Barclay added on the FWA website.

Klopp believes Roma would have to produce something special at the Stadio Olimpico tonight to deny Liverpool victory in the tie.

“I really think we deserve to be here,” said the Reds boss. “We are here to fight for our dreams, that is how it is, and we want to go to the final.

“After the game at Anfield a few people had a feeling we had lost (after Roma pulled back from 5-0 down to 5-2) and after a week a few people think Roma only have to win 3-0, but that is quite a result.”

Adam Lallana has been named in Liverpool’s 23-man squad for the game against Roma following a spell out with a hamstring injury.

The England international travelled to Italy even though he has not featured since picking up a problem shortly after coming on as a substitute against Crystal Palace in March.

Lallana travelled to South Africa for treatment last month and boss Klopp said last week that “one or two games might be possible for him”, but that there was “no chance” he would feature against Roma today.

The Reds’ last two Premier League games are against Chelsea and Brighton and their campaign could conclude with the Champions League final in Kiev on May 26.

Liverpool are currently short of midfield options as both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) and Emre Can (back) are sidelined. Defender Joe Gomez picked up an ankle problem in the 0-0 draw with Stoke and did not travel.

Forward Sadio Mane did, so too captain Jordan Henderson and defender Trent AlexanderArnold, both of whom had minor fitness concerns following the Potters game.

They love helping him and they love how he helps them.

Jurgen Klopp, on the bond between Mohamed Salah and his Liverpool team-mates.

FOOTBALL: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Sven Ulreich committed a huge blunder as holders Real Madrid edged into the Champions League final.

Ulreich missed a backpass to gift a vital second goal to Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu Stadium and the Frenchman’s double in a pulsating 2-2 draw ensured Real progressed 4-3 on aggregate.

Bayern had led early through Joshua Kimmich and a strike from James Rodriguez – who is on loan at the German club from Real – set up a tense finish.

However, the hosts withstood considerable pressure to keep their bid for a third successive title on track.

The defending champions will play either Liverpool or Roma in the final in Kiev later this month.

Defeat was harsh on Bayern, who dominated large spells of the game.

Knowing they needed to score at least twice the German side went straight on the attack and snatched the lead after just three minutes.

Franck Ribery sent the ball out wide and Corentin Tolisso whipped in a cross that Sergio Ramos should have dealt with, but failed to clear, and Kimmich pounced from close range.

The equaliser came after 11 minutes as Mateo Kovacic spread play and Marcelo delivered a superb cross for the unmarked Benzema, who rose to power home a header.

Ulreich’s gaffe handed Real the lead in the first minute of the second half, Benzema profiting, but the German side levelled on the night as Rodriguez struck at the second attempt after his initial shot was blocked by Raphael Varane.