Salah's 'absolutely exceptional' goal will be talked about in '50, 60 years', says Klopp

Liverpool manager lavishes praise on Egyptian forward after wonder goal in 2-2 draw against Manchester City

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his side's second goal 2-2 Premier League draw against Manchester City at Anfield on October 3, 2021. Getty Images

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool scores his side's second goal. Getty Images

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool speaks with teammates James Milner and Jordan Henderson. Getty Images

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah challenges Manchester City's Rodrigo. AFP

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring. Reuters

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah heads the ball. AFP

Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte challenges Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. AFP

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah runs for the ball. AFP

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool scores to make it 2-1 against Manchester City. EPA

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk warm up before the match. AFP

Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool fans will be talking about Mohamed Salah's wonder goal in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City in "50, 60 years" and described the Egyptian as one of the best players in the world.

Salah's moment of breathtaking skill - leaving a trail of City defenders in his wake - came on 76 minutes to put Liverpool ahead before a deflected Kevin de Bruyne shot ensured a share of the spoils.

Salah, who had created the first goal for Sadio Mane, twisted away from Joao Cancelo, leaving Bernardo Silva on the floor and dribbling past Aymeric Laporte before a clinical right-foot finish.

"Only the best players in the world score goals like this. It was the first touch, the first challenge he wins, the going there and putting it on his right foot and finishing the situation off like he did. Absolutely exceptional," said Klopp.

"Because this club never forgets anything, people will talk about this goal for a long, long time, in 50, 60 years, when they remember this game," he added.

Salah, 29, has started the campaign in blistering form with six goals in his first seven Premier League games as the Reds sit second in the table a point behind leaders Chelsea.

Klopp suggested Salah was now operating on a level of elite players, and deserved greater credit for the quality of his strikes.

"If Leo Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo score that goal then the world says yes because it's world class. He is one of the best players in the world, that's how it is," he said.

Salah himself had little recollection of the detail of the goal, judging from his post-match comments.

"I have to watch it to see. I do remember it. It would be more special if it won the game but it is what it is. It’s the result. I think it’s a good goal, nothing much to say," he said.

Liverpool v Manchester City ratings

LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. A couple of early moments evoked memories of his dreadful performance against City in February, but the Brazilian made important saves when needed. He was unlucky with the deflection on City’s second goal. Reuters

James Milner - 3. The 35-year-old could not handle Foden. He was very lucky not to be sent off after bringing down Silva while on a yellow card. He was taken off almost immediately afterward for Gomez. AFP

Joel Matip - 6. The centre-back got his body into a strange shape and deflected De Bruyne’s shot into the net. He defended stoutly and brought the ball out of defence capably. AFP

Virgil van Dijk - 6. The Dutchman handled City's ploy of playing Grealish down the middle with ease. He looked tentative early on but grew into the game. Getty Images

Andrew Robertson - 5. The Scot was kept occupied by Jesus and was unable to get upfield and produce the kind of crosses that Liverpool strikers feed off. EPA

Fabinho - 4. The Brazilian was far too casual and spurned a late chance when the goal was yawning in front of him. He saw the ball late but should have shot first time instead of taking a touch. He looked ponderous in midfield. Getty Images

Jordan Henderson - 4. The captain was poor in possession and did little to disrupt City’s pattern of play. A disappointing display. Getty Images

Curtis Jones - 4. The 20-year-old lacked his usual energy. His strength is running with the ball and he did little to trouble the City defence. Reuters

Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese was finding it hard to make an impact but kept moving and working. His goal was a reward for persistence as much as brilliance. Getty Images

Mohamed Salah - 9. It looked like nothing was coming off for the Egyptian but he can turn a game in a moment. His run and pass to Mane for the first goal showed his genius but he upstaged that with a wriggling run and clinical shot for the second. AFP

Diogo Jota - 5. The Portuguese laboured to get into the game and managed to test Ederson just once. Withdrawn in the 68th minute for Firmino. Getty Images

SUB: Roberto Firmino - 5. Joined the action with 22 minutes to go at Jota’s expense. He saw little of the ball and could not influence the game. AFP

SUB: Joe Gomez - 6. Sent on in the 78th minute after Milner surprisingly escaped a red card. The defence looked more solid for his presence. AFP

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 5. The Brazilian was excellent with his feet but should have done better with Salah’s goal. He also flapped at a cross that presented a late chance to Fabinho. Getty

Kyle Walker - 6. The Englishman kept a tight rein on Mane, whose goal came on the other side. He was good on the ball going forward, too. Getty Images

Ruben Dias - 6. The Portuguese made some important blocks and was composed in possession. A moment of confusion with Laporte opened up the space for Mane to score. Getty Images

Aymeric Laporte - 5. The 27-year-old should have done better for both Liverpool goals. A comfortable day turned ugly quickly for the centre-back. Reuters

Joao Cancelo - 4. The Portuguese was superb going forward but not so clever in defence. He needed to pay more attention to stopping the opposition because he neglected his responsibilities for both goals. Reuters

Rodri - 8. The Spaniard made a poor attempt to stop Salah for the first goal but this brilliant sliding challenge saved a point for his team. He set the tempo in midfield. Getty

Kevin De Bruyne - 7. The Belgian had a number of chances and should have scored with a diving header. Just as it looked as if he was having a sub-par outing he popped up to score the second equaliser. Getty Images

Bernardo Silva - 7. A composed and dynamic performance for most of the game. He left the Liverpool midfield chasing shadows but got sat down by Salah before the Egyptian striker’s goal. AFP

Gabriel Jesus - 7. The Brazilian set up Foden’s leveller and kept Robertson pinned down. He toiled away for the team in a less than glamorous role. AFP

Phil Foden - 9. The 21-year-old made life miserable for Milner. He showed his superstar credentials, scored City’s first equaliser and oozed class. Getty Images

Jack Grealish - 4. The 26-year-old was deployed up the middle to start the game and found it hard to get into the action. He was taken off with 24 minutes to go and replaced by Sterling. Getty Images

SUB: Raheem Sterling - 6. The winger came on for Grealish in the 66th minute. He sent in a tempting cross that Liverpool scrambled to clear and made some good runs that came to nothing. AFP

Manchester City have made a complaint to Liverpool after alleging a fan spat at their backroom staff during the 2-2 draw at Anfield.

Manager Pep Guardiola said he was not aware of the incident at the time but was subsequently notified and he is confident the host club will take the necessary action.

“They [the staff] told me but I didn’t see it,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure Liverpool FC will take measures against this person. I know they are greater than this behaviour.”

It is understood Liverpool are investigating the incident and are looking at CCTV footage from that area of the ground.