Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has described Mohamed Salah's latest scoring feat as “insane” after the Egyptian broke the record for most left-footed goals in Premier League history.
Salah scored a brace in Liverpool's 6-1 victory at Leeds United on Monday night, the second of which meant he overtook former Reds striker Robbie Fowler's total of 105 goals with his left peg.
The 30-year-old now tops the left-footed list that also includes the likes of Robin van Persie (94 goals) and Ryan Giggs (83).
“Last week when I heard that Mo had scored the most left-footed goals in Premier League history, I would say that is insane,” said Klopp, ahead of Saturday's game at Nottingham Forest.
“When I see the names below – Fowler, Van Persie, Giggs – these are Premier League greats, absolutely, so that is massive.
“Surpassing Robbie in another stat – I know he likes these kinds of things and this will fill his tank for the game.
“I also know that his assist record is pretty good too. He doesn't forget that it is important to or nice to break records, but it is much more important to win the game and sometimes pass the ball rather than shoot yourself.”
While Salah's status as a club all-time great is already safely secured, summer signing Darwin Nunez is still trying to define his role in the side, having featured both wide left and centrally.
Leeds 1 Liverpool 6: Player ratings
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LEEDS UNITED PLAYER RATINGS: Illan Meslier – 2. A forgettable night for Meslier who picked the ball out of the net on six occasions, though much was down to a shocking defensive display. Reuters -
Junior Firpo – 2. Firpo’s mistake was the crucial one as he failed to clear his lines with any conviction, allowing Alexander-Arnold to assist the opener. Struggled to cope with Salah, whom he left wide open in the second half when scoring his brace. PA -
Pascal Struijk – 2. Looked to give up on tracking Salah for Liverpool’s second and lacked communication with Firpo on his side. PA -
Robin Koch – 3. Started brightly by marking Gakpo tightly, but in the end was part of a torrid defensive display. Beaten too easily by Robertson on Salah’s brace. Reuters -
Rasmus Kristensen – 3. Kept Jota quiet early on but eventually lost track of him. Played Nunez onside for Liverpool’s sixth goal of the game. Reuters -
Marc Roca – 4. Seemed to get unnecessarily dragged out to wide areas where he delivered crosses that were easily dealt with. Reuters -
Weston McKennie – 4. Sloppy in possession and provided little assurance after the opening goal. Had to do more to block off the areas around the penalty area, as seen with Jota’s unchallenged volley. AFP -
Luis Sinisterra – 6. Looked to make things happen when on the ball and got his reward when tackling Konate in his own half before an excellent finish. Worryingly for Leeds fans, Sinisterra was later forced off with an injury. Getty -
Brenden Aaronson – 5. Unlucky with an effort before the hour mark that was inches from finding the top corner, and always tried to get Leeds going in the right direction. Reuters -
Jack Harrison – 4. Struggled to create anything meaningful with play that saw attacks break down when the ball got to him. Must be much more accurate with his passing. Reuters -
Rodrigo – 4. Had a half-chance from a set piece but lacked conviction with his header. Anonymous in the second half. Reuters -
SUBS: Crysencio Summerville (Rodrigo 66’) – 5. Scored the decisive goal in the previous fixture at Anfield, but there was no chance of heroics this time around. Always looked to play progressively despite having a lack of options at times. AP -
Georginio Rutter (Aaronsen 66’) – 5. Rarely found himself in possession after being introduced for Aaronsen in the 66th minute. AFP -
Wilfried Gnonto (Harrison 77’) – N/A. Did nothing when introduced as Liverpool continued to control the game. Reuters -
Adam Forshaw (Sinisterra 77’) – N/A. Introduced in the 77th minute after Sinisterra went down after appearing to tweak something. PA -
LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson – 6. Commanded his area to claim the ball and positioned well to save from Rodrigo. Lost his cleansheet after a poor error from Konate allowed Sinisterra to chip past him. Getty -
Andrew Robertson – 6. Pressed well and didn’t get beaten on his side, though his best moment of the match was his involvement for Salah’s brace when he breezed past Koch with an impressive first touch. Reuters -
Virgil van Dijk – 7. Anticipated the danger instantly to track balls coming in behind and looked comfortable when winning his duels. AP -
Ibrahima Konate – 5. - Impressive outside of one moment of madness that saw him too slow to react, failing to clear the danger amid pressure from Sinisterra. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7. Got Liverpool off and running after winning back possession before assisting the opener. Regularly found space in midfield to help transition the ball forward. AP -
Fabinho – 6. Alert to developing situations and blocked off the central areas of the pitch well. Kept things simple with his passing. Reuters -
Curtis Jones – 7. A third Premier League start in a row for Jones who capped it off with a superb pass to Jota for Liverpool’s third. A solid display from midfield where he took good care of the ball. PA -
Jordan Henderson – 7. Slow to get going but benefitted when spaces began to open. Worked hard to win the midfield battle and keep Liverpool on the front foot. Reuters -
Diogo Jota – 8. A wasteful 30 minutes from Jota saw him not wake up until late on in the first half, winning back possession before putting the ball perfectly on Salah’s left-foot to finish with class. Then helped himself to two goals in the second half. Getty -
Cody Gakpo – 8. Showing signs of progress in the false nine role, where he linked play elegantly on the front line. Rarely gave away possession and was patient with his decision-making. Opened the scoring and picked up an assist after finding Salah for his brace. Getty -
Mohamed Salah – 8. The Egypt international was in clinical form at Elland Road, with two finishes that came from the top drawer. That is the sort of lethality that the Reds need him to show if they are to make the top four. EPA -
SUBS: James Milner (Henderson 81’) – N/A. Back at the club where he made his professional debut. PA -
Darwin Nunez (Gakpo 81’) – 7. Put the icing on the cake with a well-timed run and finish past Meslier. EPA -
Luis Diaz (Gakpo 81’) – N/A. Back after a long time out through injury, and much appreciated by the Liverpool fans in the away end. EPA -
Roberto Firmino (Jota 82’) – N/A. Came on for Jota in the 82nd minute. EPA -
Thiago Alcantara (Fabinho 85’) – N/A. More beneficial minutes for Thiago who has just returned from injury. Getty
The Uruguay international has scored 15 goals since arriving from Benfica but has found himself on the bench for three of the last four matches.
“Darwin is a player with a different skill-set to our other players which is good. He's a real handful, a machine. He will score a lot of goals, and he's scored a decent number already,” added Klopp.
“But of course he's still adapting. His English still isn't great but we're working on that … Learning English will help him massively.
“It's not helpful to go through a debut season when it's difficult for the whole team. How can a striker shine when the whole team is struggling?
“He was injured in some moments, suspended in other moments. That's not a problem at all. This is a long-term project.
“I understand that he wants to play desperately from the beginning but we have to find a way that really works for us again and then fit in the players we can use with the specific strengths.
“I am completely fine with the situation. I understand that Darwin isn't always fine. He doesn't smile in my face when he realises he won't start and says: 'Thank you boss'.
“But when you have five or six players available up front you have to make decisions and that's good.”
The demolition of relegation-haunted Leeds was a high point in what Klopp acknowledges has been a rollercoaster season for the Merseysiders.
It was Liverpool's first win since sticking seven goals past fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield at the start of March.
But Liverpool currently sit eighth in the table, nine points behind Newcastle United in fourth place and were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid 6-2 on aggregate in the last-16.
“It has been a very average season we have had so far and yet we have had some of our highest results in the in club's history, which is strange,” said Klopp.
“I said after the Leeds game I thought that was the best game we have played this season.
“It was a very stable performance which is very important and that is what we have to build on.
“I can't guarantee any kind of result but we have to guarantee a performance level and that is what we have to do now.”
