REDS READY TO MOTOR ON

Salah’s all-action display shows he is back to full power with title race heading for a thrilling climax

IF he never scored again for Liverpool, Mo Salah would remain a club legend.

But his adoring Anfield fans should have no fears that is going to happen.

Salah is back.

Salah is fit.

Salah is ready to deliver a spectacular finale to one of the greatest Premier League seasons.

His winner against Brighton on Sunday ensured Jurgen Klopp’s side go into this week’s full programme of matches leading the way.

Next up on Thursday are bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United, who have conceded 77 league goals this season.

On Sunday, Salah came through his first 90 minutes since New Year’s Day. His 16th league goal of the season took him to joint second on the scoring charts but with it came a display which should be ominous to more than just the Blades defence this week.

Salah’s 12 goal attempts against Brighton were his most in a Premier League game – and the best since Zlatan Ibrahimovic also managed 12 for Manchester United against Burnley in 2016.

No wonder Klopp says Salah is at his top level again.

Klopp has carefully managed the striker’s return because of his two hamstring injuries and he missed twoand-a-half months of the campaign because of them and the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.

In all competitions, Salah has scored 22 times and contributed 12 assists for the Reds in 33 games this season.

He has scored in his past three appearances and also has three assists.

When Liverpool won the Premier League in 2019-20, Salah scored 19 times in 34 league matches. He is more than on course to better those figures with nine games to go.

He should have scored more against Brighton, 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.

The manager said: “Yes, playing-wise, absolutely. Imagine if Mo would have finished off all the situations in his career, that would have been crazy numbers, so it’s absolutely 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 absolutely happy with everything. He could play 90-something minutes.”

A fully-fit Salah,

31, is priceless for Liverpool as they hold a two-point lead over Arsenal and three over Manchester City.

Also crucial is Alexis Mac Allister’s form and the Argentina 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 has three goals and three assists from his more advanced midfield role in his past five games. “He’s just an unbelievable footballer,” said Reds right-back Conor Bradley: “I’ve never seen someone retain the ball so well. He’s so calm on the ball and he’s so composed. He’s a joy to play with.”