Mo Salah, already a leading candidate for PFA Player of the Year entering yesterday’s 5-0 rout of Watford, put in a dominating performance that ramped up his MVP bonafides ever further. The Liverpool winger scored four times, to give him 28 on the Premier League season, and 38 across all competitions for the Reds.
Entering the clash, the Egyptian international said that he really likes the Premier League, because it perfectly suits his game. Well, the league certainly reciprocates his affection because Salah is having a dream season that has exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations.
After the big win, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp had high praise for Mo Salah, saying that his high flying forward is on the way to reaching Lionel Messi level.
“Yeah, I think Mo is on the way. That’s good,” Klopp said.
“I don’t think Mo wants or anybody wants to be compared with Lionel Messi. He [Messi] is the one who is doing what he is doing for what feels like 20 years or so.”
The last player I know that had the same influence on a team performance was Diego Maradona — another Argentina guy. Yes, Mo is on a fantastic way; that’s for sure, but how it always is in life, if you have the skills then you have to show it constantly.”
“His consistency is very good for us; he helps us a lot. The boys love playing together with him, he loves playing together with them, so it’s good. You need always in a game somebody who brings the ball over the line.”
Klopp is right in saying that no player truly likes to be compared to Messi, because the Barcelona galactico might be the best player in the world right now, and such comparisons inevitably bring ridiculous expectations. Mo Salah, like any elite star athlete, would rather focus on team, not individual accomplishments.
Salah, who’s transfer market value has nearly doubled this season according to CIES, maintains that he wants to stay on Merseyside for the long term. He has previously promised a trophy this season, and also said that he came to Anfield to win league titles.
The summer transfer acquisition from AS Roma also said just today that Liverpool don’t fear anybody left in the Champions League, and that he thinks Liverpool can win the league title next season.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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