After another outstanding performance, including a first Liverpool hat-trick, Jurgen Klopp believes Mo Salah is “on his way” to being on the same level as Lionel Messi, as reported by the BBC.
Salah scored his 36th goal of the season, surpassing former Liverpool icons Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres for their best goal tally in a season. Suarez managed 31 goals in 2013/14 and Torres 33 in 2007/08 but Salah has risen above them and he has at least nine games still to play.
I don’t think Mo wants to be compared with Lionel Messi. Messi has been doing what he’s been doing for what feels like 20 years or so. The last player I know who had the same influence on a team performance was Diego Maradona.
The forward scored his 28th Premier League goal against Watford, taking him to the top in the race for the Golden Boot. With Harry Kane out for some period of time, Salah could use this to his advantage and build an unassailable lead.
The comparisons to Messi are something any player would like to have, and it’s easy to see why Salah has gained this honour. His first goal against Watford showed shades of the Argentine’s against Bayern in the 2015 Champions League semi-final, when he left Jerome Boateng on the floor, just like Salah did to Miguel Britos.
There is no doubting that Salah has had a phenomenal season, one of the best of a Liverpool player for some time. He continues to better himself every week and score goals that only someone like Messi would score. The Egyptian fully deserves all the plaudits he gets, and PFA Player of the Year is definitely on the cards.
