TONEY AWARD FOR UNSTOPPABLE IVAN
Brentford 2 Stoke 1
IVAN TONEY won this game with a dramatic late 25th league goal of the season.
That completed an unlikely comeback for Brentford, who fell behind to a Jacob Brown goal after just 27 seconds following a blunder from keeper David Raya.
But Vitaly Janelt’s screamer hauled them back into it after the break before Toney, back in the starting line-up after an ankle knock, did what he does best.
Brentord boss Thomas Frank said: “Ivan (left) deserves a lot of credit for his mentality and hunger, and wanting to be better every day.” Stoke manager Michael O’neill said: “We didn’t let them out of their half much in the first half. It took a great goal to level things.”
JURGEN KLOPP has admitted it’s a priority to ensure unsettled Mo Salah remains at Liverpool. In a season cursed by injury, erratic results and poor form, Kop boss Klopp has seen Liverpool’s title defence collapse in spectacular fashion.
Salah’s electric form has been one of the few positives. The Egyptian striker is top of the Premier League scoring charts, having struck 17 goals so far and 24 in all competitions from 35 games.
Despite Liverpool struggling to perform like champions, Salah has been the one constant – and the African star has even managed to outscore European giants Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Salah, 28, is said to be looking for a bumper pay upgrade on his current deal, which runs until June 2023.
So far that’s not materialised and the ex-chelsea man is reported to be disappointed that Liverpool are stalling.
But with speculation still swirling about the striker’s future, Klopp has hammered home his importance to the team this season – and beyond.
The Anfield boss said: “Both are very important – to the team now and that he stays here with us in the future.
“It’s not often that I have to praise my own players which, of course, I always like to do. But in Mo’s case the numbers just speak for themselves, which is one thing. But Mo is not only a goalscorer – he’s developed football-wise as well in his time here.
“He is a very, very important player for us and hopefully will be that for a very long time.”
Klopp has revealed he’s tried to lift the spirits of his struggling stars by telling them how good they still are.
“I did it last season but now the situation is different,” he said. “It’s not the same idea behind it like then but yes, I still show the good things as well just because I want to keep the team confident.
“Results right now cannot give confidence, that is clear. So where do you get confidence from? From the good things in a game.
“We have to play successful football, I know that, and for that we need to emphasise that the performances and situations must be better.
“So long as my team shows me that they really have the desire to win or change the situation, I am completely on their side.”
Klopp reckons Liverpool have more in common with today’s opponents – Chris Wilder’s relegationthreatened Sheffield United – than it appears.
He added: “Our analysis shows that in the last seven or eight games they have been much better than before.
“They weren’t using their own chances and for the opponent it was enough just to have one chance.
“It’s a similar situation to us... not because they are completely underperforming but because in decisive moments, like us, they didn’t do enough things right.that’s a situation both of us have to change.”