Klopp praises Salah after reaching 20 league goals for the season

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has praised Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian reached 20 league goals for the second-straight league campaign. The Egypt international has not been able to produce with the same consistency compared to the previous campaign and he is nonetheless leading the race for the Premier League Golden Boot at the present moment.

Speaking to BBC, Klopp admitted that he has been impressed with the attacker’s goalscoring prowess and indicated that the current goal tally could mean much more than the one accrued during the previous campaign, he said: “[Salah’s goal record] is just incredible. It’s such an important season for him, after a flying season in which nearly every shot was a goal, then being assessed by everyone, is it just a one-season thing? Keeping that level [the next season] is an even bigger achievement than scoring 40 goals last season, which was already an incredible achievement.”

Meanwhile, the German tactician dismissed the speculation that he has had a rift with Salah during the current season while revealing that Roberto Firmino has not suffered a long-term muscular problem, he added: “I always tell you don’t believe three per cent of what you hear on social media. I had no argument with Mo especially after the Chelsea game and Roberto Firmino is not out for the season.”

The Merseyside giants have moved to the top of the Premier League temporarily and they could be leapfrogged by Manchester City, should the Citizens overcome Burnley on the road. Elsewhere, the Reds are scheduled to make the trip to the Camp Nou for the opening leg of their Champions League semi-final against Barcelona where they could be without Firmino. The Brazilian sustained a minor muscular tear prior to the Terriers game and Klopp has said that the marksman remains doubtful for the Barcelona clash.