Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp, has revealed what is responsible for forward, Mohamed Salah’s blistering form this season.
Salah took his Liverpool’s goal tally to 36 for the season with four goals in the 5-0 win over Watford on Saturday.
Klopp believes Salah’s form at previous club, Roma, where he played behind striker, Edin Dzeko, was not as prolific as it’s now.
“He played more on the wing in Rome for example, where he had a very dominant striker, Edin Dzeko,” Klopp told reporters.
“Nobody could know (that he could play as a striker). We learnt it step by step. We didn’t know exactly that he’s (capable) of playing in the centre. He’s had games. It’s normal when you are 1-0 up and you leave him in the centre with the counter-attack.
“We will not treat him like, you don’t have to train, Mo-just come on Saturday for the game and we’ll see you there at Anfield or whatever.
“He doesn’t want that. He’s exactly in the moment of his career but he knows there is a lot for him to come. He wants to learn and he wants to improve.
“When did we realise he could play in the centre? It was early. Without consistency, we couldn’t know but in the pre-season we knew.”
“I think there was one situation in the first half – he doesn’t love defending as he loves attacking but he’s still involved,” said Klopp of Salah’s defensive duties.
“Thank God to Roberto (Firmino) that he’s doing all of these things without thinking.”
“He (Salah) does it. But sometimes he needs a little… (reminder). A lot of my players need that.”
“It’s not that we speak about it. Don’t misunderstand me, it’s only a thing, it’s not exactly the same strength. If you talk about Roberto, Roberto loves running in that (forward) direction, and chasing the players. If I said to him, ‘Stop it’. He couldn’t.
“He runs all the time but then Mo didn’t stop as well tonight in the other direction. He took each sprint like the 100 metre final in the Olympic Games. That’s what I mean, the team adapts to the strengths.”
“You need to learn as a team, ‘Where is he?’ because there isn’t always time for searching. That’s all. It’s normal work.”
“What you have to do is what we did (with Salah). You have to bring him more often in the positions where he can score or be involved in games.”
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