Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah shares the same standard of professionalism as Cristiano Ronaldo and believes he can emulate the Manchester United man by starring in his mid-30s. The Reds boss also hinted that he hopes the Egyptian can do so at Liverpool as his contract situation continues to be speculated upon. Salah scored his 11th and 12th goal of a superb campaign so far in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in Group B of the Champions League 24 hours hours before 36-year-old Ronaldo grabbed the winner by the same scoreline against Atalanta at Old Trafford. The Liverpool marksman is seven years Ronaldo ‘s junior and Klopp thinks the drive and determination he sees in his No.11 is comparable to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. At 29, Salah ‘s contract has less than two years to run on it but his manager hopes the top scorer is still performing with the Reds well beyond 2023.
Jurgen Klopp said: “You need luck, because things can happen with injuries and so on, but I think the professionalism of both Mo and Cristiano is the one thing you can compare 100 per cent. It is probably the same. Mo is incredibly professional. He is really the first one in and very often the last out of all the players. He is constantly interested in all the things he can do and has to do to keep or improve the standard. I think he still has a lot to give, 100 per cent. It helps him for sure and the team he is playing for then as well and I hope it is for us [in the future].”
Salah was given the opening goal against Atletico after UEFA ruled that his shot was deflected in off Geoffrey Kongdobia rather than James Milner and Klopp described the mazy dribble and finish as a “special” goal.
Jurgen Klopp said: “It’s true that I have been blessed with incredible players during my time but, no, when the ball went over all players in that situation and Mo had to already run pretty quick to get it before the sideline and then he turns, it didn’t look for me like a proper goalscoring opportunity to me. But challenge by challenge it developed into that. That’s the situation and that is the difference between a moment when momentum is not on your side and when momentum is on your side. It is all about the quality of Mo in this moment to do it, to try it and you can imagine how much all the players of Atletico knew about this ability and wanted to defend it desperately and still couldn’t do it. That is pretty special, pretty special. I am really happy and more than fine with the players I could watch during my time, and being quite positive when they got the ball, that something special will happen.”
