Jurgen Klopp: ‘100-goal Mohamed Salah is a machine’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has labelled Mohamed Salah “a machine” after the Egyptian’s milestone goal propelled the Reds to a 1-0 Premier League win over Brentford.
The Merseyside giants kept their hopes of Champions League football alive thanks to Salah’s 13th-minute effort, which also extended Liverpool’s winning run in the top flight to six matches.
Salah could not miss from a yard out after latching onto Virgil van Dijk’s header across goal, taking a touch before volleying the ball into the roof of the net to sink Thomas Frank’s side.
Salah’s effort saw the Egypt international score at Anfield for the 100th time, and he is now the first-ever Liverpool player to find the back of the net in nine successive matches at the stadium.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Klopp waxed lyrical about Salah’s achievements, having also witnessed the 30-year-old hit the 30-goal mark in all competitions for the season.
“This is not our season so far, so for an offensive player to use the few chances you have is really tricky. He is a machine and today it was so important how he defended. He grew here as a player and a personality. Long may it continue,” Klopp said.
Salah was not the only centurion to be celebrated at Anfield on Saturday, as Alisson Becker collected his 100th clean sheet in Liverpool colours, but not without a couple of scares.
Bryan Mbeumo thought he had equalised for Brentford towards the end of the first half, skipping past Alisson and slotting home after giving Van Dijk the slip, but the offside flag saved the Reds.
Liverpool survived several waves of pressure to keep Brentford at bay, and Klopp has challenged Alisson to record another 100 shut-outs for the club, adding: “I gave him a shirt, we had a shirt prepared for him and I said this is for 100 lifesaving saves this season.
“His performances speak for themselves. If you know him, he is a better person than a goalie and that is already difficult. I can’t wait to see the next 100.”
Liverpool have now cut the gap to fourth-placed Manchester United down to one point, but the Red Devils have two games in hand and can restore their four-point lead with victory at West Ham United on Sunday.
Klopp has consistently played Liverpool’s chances of forcing their way into the Champions League places, although he praised his side for defying the odds to even be in contention in the first place.
“Six games ago nobody would have thought we would be here. We cannot do more than win football games,” the 55-year-old added.
“If Manchester United play their games in the way they want they will be seven points away and that will be really difficult to catch. We have to make sure we finish the situation in the best possible way.
“Brentford have all our respect and the boys showed that today. The best defensive set-piece session I ever saw, the best set-piece team in the league, the most creative, with a whole week to prepare.
“We had too much of these moments but that’s how it is. They go for it. From a focus point of view it was sensational. From a football point of view, we had good moments in the first half and at the start of the second. I really liked how we stayed concentrated, the boys wanted this result and I’m really happy.”
Liverpool have eight full days to recover from Saturday’s exertions before they travel to face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on May 15.
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