Tuesday, April 2 2024 – 15:32 WIB
VIVA – Mohamed Salah has finally returned to full fitness to provide a major boost to Liverpool’s title hopes. Salah scored the winner against Brighton as he played his first 90 minutes in the Premier League since New Year and boss Jurgen Klopp said he was back to his top level.
Klopp carefully managed Salah’s return due to two hamstring injuries that caused him to miss two-and-a-half months of the campaign and most of the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt.
Liverpool player Mohamed Salah celebrates a goal
But Klopp said he was working at full speed after seeing him extend his record as top scorer against Brighton.
Salah’s game-winning goal means he has scored nine goals and six assists against the Seagulls, which is his most goals against a single opponent and his most in this match.
He has scored 22 goals and contributed 12 assists this season, meaning he has been involved in 34 goals in 33 appearances so far this season. Salah’s 12 goal attempts against Brighton were the most in a single Premier League match and the best since Zlatan Ibrahimovic managed the same goal for Manchester United against Burnley in October 2016.
He could have scored more against Brighton, but Klopp was grateful he took the biggest chance of the match to score his goal and said he was back to full match fitness.
Liverpool manager, Juergen Klopp
“Yes, of course play wisely. “Imagine if Mo solved all the situations in his career, that would be a crazy number, so that’s okay,” said the Liverpool boss, quoted by the Mirror, Tuesday, April 2 2024.
“But then being calm in the decisive moment when you have to finish off the biggest chance we had, it was the best football situation we played in, which then made me a real goalscorer, so I’m very happy with everything. He can play for 90 minutes and now we have to keep going,” he added.
A fully fit Salah, 31, is invaluable for Liverpool as they enter the final stretch of the title race with nine games remaining with a two-point lead over Arsenal and three points over Manchester City.
Liverpool have only achieved a lead like this at this stage of the season before under Klopp in 2020, when they were running in the league, and that could be the key.
Also crucial was the performance of Alexis Mac Allister and the World Cup winner from Argentina set up Salah’s decisive attack with a perfect and sharp pass.
Mac Allister deservedly earned man of the match honors against his former club Brighton and enjoyed the purple in his performance.
Mac Allister, 25, has three goals and three assists from his more advanced midfield role in his last five games and Conor Bradley admits he enjoys playing alongside him.
“He’s an extraordinary footballer,” said the Northern Ireland star.
“I’ve never seen someone defend the ball this well. He is very calm on the ball and very calm. He is an amazing footballer and a pleasure to play with. “I can’t praise him enough to be honest with you,” he continued.
