Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is in the form of his life ahead of Sunday's Premier League derby at Old Trafford.
Salah is top of the Premier League goalscorer charts with seven and also has four assists in eight games and five strikes in the Champions League.
Solskjaer praised Salah and also his teammates on the frontline - Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.
"I'll always back Cristiano (Ronaldo) in any competition, he's unique and his goalscoring record is fantastic but that being said, Salah is on fire," Solskjaer said.
"You see some of the goals he's scored lately, we know we have to be at our best to defend against him. Players like him don't come along very often. We have to enjoy these players from afar - not Sunday, that's too close.
"Not just him, I'm a big admirer of their frontline for many, many years. Mane, Firmino, maybe Jota will play. They are players you should be focused on for 95 minutes to keep a clean sheet."
Salah's goals this season
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1. Mohamed Salah's first goal of the season came in Liverpool's first game of the season, a 3-0 victory at newly promoted Norwich City on August 14. Reuters -
2. Salah's second goal came on August 28, in Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Reuters -
3. No 3 of the season was at Leeds United, where Liverpool won 3-0. EPA -
4. Another for Salah in the Premier League in the 3-0 win against Crystal Palace on September 18. AFP -
5. A thrilling 3-3 draw at Brentford on September 25 saw Salah claim another goal. AFP -
6. A goal that will be talked about for years to come: Salah scores a wonderful strike in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City on October 3. EPA -
7. The international break did nothing to slow Salah's form, as he danced around Watford's bewildered defence to score in the 5-0 win at Vicarage Road. Reuters -
8. Salah scores the third against Manchester United in Liverpool's 5-0 Premier League triumph on October 24. Getty -
9. Salah was soon at it again, adding the fourth at Old Trafford. Getty -
10. A hat-trick for Salah, adding the fifth in Liverpool's 5-0 win at Manchester United. Getty -
11. After three games without a goal, Salah is back on the scoresheet in the 4-0 demolition of Arsenal in the Premier League on November 20. EPA -
12. Another to delight the Liverpool fans as Salah scores his side's second goal during the 4-1 Merseyside derby win at Everton on December 1. AP -
13. His next came in the same match at Goodison Park. EPA -
14. The only goal of the game in the 1-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa at Anfield on December 11. EPA -
15. Liverpool keep the momentum going with a 3-1 win over Newcastle at Anfield, with Salah netting the second, on December 16. Reuters -
16. Salah celebrates another goal in the 2-2 draw at Chelsea on January 2. AP -
17. Salah scores the second goal in the 3-1 win against Norwich on February 19. PA -
18. Mohamed Salah scores in the 6-0 win against Leeds on February 23. PA -
19. Salah after scoring his second goal of the game against Leeds. AP -
20. Another stunning season for Mohamed Salah as he notches Premier League goal No 20 in the 2-0 win at Brighton on March 12. PA
Liverpool are the only unbeaten team in the league this season and have scored at least three goals in each of their last eight away games in all competitions.
"They're on a great run of form, some individual skills that you cannot almost defend against but as a team, we have to be compact and aggressive," Solskjaer added.
"It's going to take everything to get results against one of the best teams in Europe, in the world. Liverpool are one of those teams at the moment.
"What they've done the last four years is what we're striving towards. We ended up above them last season, they had a bad spell with injuries last year but are now back to their best."
Bruno Fernandes is in danger of missing the showdown with Liverpool through injury.
Portugal playmaker Fernandes is among several United players feeling the effects of Wednesday’s bruising Champions League contest against Atalanta.
Solskjaer confirmed some players had to sit out training on Friday, little more than 48 hours before United seek to halt their Premier League slide.
“Games like Wednesday night are always going to bring knocks and bruises,” Solskjaer said at his pre-match press conference.
“We do have two or three from that game. Bruno might be one of them that is a doubt, but he’s doing everything he can to be ready.”
