LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp believes comparisons between Mohamed Salah and Barcelona鈥檚 five-time Ballon d鈥橭r winner Lionel Messi are premature, but that the Egyptian is on his way to one day becoming the best player in the world.
Salah鈥檚 stunning season continued with a four-goal haul in a 5-0 thrashing of Watford at Anfield to take his tally for the season to 36 on Saturday 鈥� the most goals ever scored by a Liverpool player in their debut year at the club.
Messi showed why he is still widely considered the world鈥檚 best by scoring his 100th Champions League goal in tearing Chelsea apart in a 3-0 win on Wednesday.
But Klopp believes Salah, 25, has time on his side to succeed Messi and Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo, both now in their thirties, as the world鈥檚 best player.
鈥淚 think Mo is on the way (to being the best in the world),鈥� said Klopp.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think Mo or anybody else wants to be compared with Lionel Messi. He is the one who is doing what he鈥檚 doing for what feels like 20 years or so.鈥�
And Klopp challenged Salah to maintain the standards he has set this season in the manner Messi and Ronaldo have for the past decade.
鈥淎s it always is in life, if you have the skills, you have to show that constantly, and consistently he is very good and he helps us a lot.鈥�
Salah even defied the slippery conditions of a snow storm as he weaved his way past Jose Holebas to slot home the opener after just four minutes.
鈥淐onditions were difficult. It was obviously slippery and everybody suffered, but not Mo in that situation. It was really special,鈥� added Klopp.
Liverpool had to wait until two minutes before half-time to double their advantage, but there was no surprise who was on the end of a sweeping team move as Salah got his second of the evening from Andy Robertson鈥檚 inch-perfect cross.
Salah turned provider immediately after the break when his cross was wonderfully backheeled past Karnezis by Roberto Firmino.
The Egyptian made it 4-0 with 13 minutes remaining as, despite falling over, he managed to slide the ball past Karnezis.
And he then capped off a brilliant personal performance in the dying seconds, thrashing into the roof of the net after Karnezis had fumbled Danny Ings鈥� shot.
鈥淪eems crazy to say that a 拢37.5m signing is an absolute bargain, but how much would Mo Salah cost now?鈥� tweeted former England and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker. 鈥淲hat a player.鈥�
Michael Owen scored 118 goals for Liverpool and you suspect it will not be long before the Egyptian is closing in on his tally.
鈥淪coring goals has always been regarded as the hardest part of the game,鈥� tweeted Owen. 鈥淢o Salah is starting to make me question that statement.鈥�
Mohamed Salah invites comparisons with Lionel Messi after making it 36 goals in debut Liverpool season
-
{{#bullets}}
- {{value}} {{/bullets}}