Liverpool legend and all-time top scorer Ian Rush has congratulated Mohamed Salah after he scored his landmark 200th goal in a red shirt in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over 10-man Crystal Palace.
The Egyptian Superstar reached this landmark in his 327th competitive game for the club. It was also his 150th league goal for Liverpool and Rush described his impact since joining the club in the summer of 2017 from AS Roma as “phenomenal”.
“It’s a huge achievement in itself to get to 200 goals,” Rush told Liverpool’s website. “Not many do that, so first things first, congratulations on that!
“His impact has been phenomenal, and he’s not only a quality footballer, but a fantastic role model for people in different parts of the world. In Egypt, he’s a god, and he’s given boys and girls there the belief that they can go on and be a professional footballer. That’s the sort of person he is.”
Rush also added about Salah: “His mentality is incredible. Mental toughness is the most important thing for a forward, I think.
“If I missed 10 chances it wouldn’t worry me, because I would always think I’m going to score the next one. Without that toughness you will find it really difficult.
“Mo has definitely got that toughness. He believes, always. He knows he’s there to deliver, and he embraces that.”
327 games.
200 goals.@MoSalah’s scoring record for the Reds… ???????? pic.twitter.com/iVsp2G3ttN— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 10, 2023
Rush scored 346 goals during his combined 16 years with Liverpool and while Salah is still some miles off reaching that mark in fifth place on the all-time scorer’s list, 62-year-old Rush wants to see Salah succeed on the pitch.
“I just congratulate him on his records, which seem to come every week!” Rush concluded. “But he always says the same to me about my goals. He once asked me if I’d counted my goals in training!
“Listen, it’s great holding records, but they are there to be broken, and if he breaks one of mine, then great. That means Liverpool are being successful, and the club always comes first.
“Mo loves breaking records, but if he does so, then first and foremost that means the team is successful, and that’s what we all want.
“But I can only congratulate him on what he’s achieved so far. He’s a special player. The crowd loves him, and let’s hope he’s here for a few more years.”
