Bournemouth (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Jurgen Klopp and Eddie Howe were in agreement that Mohamed Salah is one of the world’s best players after Liverpool’s crushing 4-0 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Salah’s hat-trick lit up the game and gave Klopp’s side the perfect boost ahead of next week’s decisive Champions League meeting with Napoli.
And the manner in which the Egypt international took his goals — in particular the two outstanding finishes for his second and third — confirmed the forward is back to his best.
Bournemouth manager Howe put aside his disappointment at his side’s heavy defeat to praise the Liverpool man.
“Salah looked very good today, his movement was very good, he looked razor-sharp,” said Howe. “We did struggle to handle him, he’s one of the best in the world.”
And when Klopp was informed of Howe’s comments, the Liverpool manager replied: “I think Eddie Howe is one of the best managers I have ever met so how could I say something different?”
Salah scored 44 goals last season and after an inconsistent start to the current campaign, has now struck 12 in all competitions.
“Whatever you do in a football game you need somebody to finish it off,” said Klopp.
“And what Mo did around his two goals in the second half was just exceptional. I don’t know in the moment a lot of players who would have scored these two goals.
“He was fouled for the first one but he wants to score the goals and stands on his feet and scores it. But the most impressive finish was his third goal. It was outstanding again, how he set it up, that was good.”
– Salah strikes –
Salah put Liverpool ahead in the 25th minute when he followed up Roberto Firmino’s long-range shot to finish from 10 metres out.
He surpassed that early in the second half when he picked up a loose ball and ran from halfway, keeping going after an attempted trip by Steve Cook, before placing his shot inside Asmir Begovic’s far post.
And the Egyptian completed his treble after a Cook own goal had killed off the game, again running from deep before this time twice rounding Begovic before placing the ball into the net.
Klopp said: “The whole game was brilliant from him (Salah) today — not only the goals. He wanted to help with runs in behind and him scoring three goals is big for him and very important for us.”
from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2G955nW
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