No need to worry over Salah’s tricky start, says Van Dijk

LONDON: Virgil Van Dijk insists there is no reason for Liverpool to panic over Mohamed Salah’s slow start to the season.

The Egyptian striker has scored just three goals in his first seven Premier League outings this season, an innocuous start given how high he set the bar last year.

The 26-year-old grabbed 44 goals across all competitions for the Reds during a campaign that saw them reach the Champions League final.

However, by this stage last year, Salah only had one more goal to his name in the top flight, and his Anfield teammate believes the goals are set to flow once again.

“We are seven games in and Mo’s working hard. He’s still the same Mo, and he needs a bit of luck as well,” said Van Dijk.

“I’m not worried at all, and he should not be worried either. We do it all together, we’ll always be there for him and he’ll deliver as well.

“He had a tough game against Chelsea (on Saturday), but it’s part of football.”

Stepping up to the plate in absence of strikes from Liverpool’s No 11 has been Daniel Sturridge, who scored his second in two games against Chelsea to steal a point for Jurgen Klopp’s side at Stamford Bridge.

After last season’s sorry stint on loan at West Brom, the former Chelsea striker looks to be playing his way back into England contention, as well as finding favour with Klopp once again.

And Van Dijk says there should be no questioning the fact that the 29-year-old can still kick it on the international stage.

“I don’t think there should be any doubt (he’s good enough),” he said. “But it’s all about the manager (Gareth Southgate), he made the choices.

“But I know what he’s capable of, how good he can be and when he’s at his best, by playing against him and seeing him in training with the hard work that he puts in and the positivity that he brings as well.

“But it’s the manager’s choice and I hope for the best for him.”