Jurgen Klopp is unsurprised by Mohamed Salah’s instant impact having returned to action from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Egyptian was on international duty in Ivory Coast and suffered a hamstring injury which kept him out for almost a month.
He was named among the substitutes in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brentford and came off to bench to replace the injury Diogo Jota, scoring a goal and assisting another for a comfortable 4-1 away win.
Klopp believes Salah could have scored a hat-trick in the game.
“I’m not surprised about that, to be honest. Mo played the first game for weeks, months, I’m not sure. I think [he] could have had a hat-trick,” the former Borussia Dortmund manager said.
“I don’t know the first one, but Lucho [Luis Diaz] kicks the ball against his right foot, or whatever, then the other Mo usually finishes that off but the goalkeeper [Kelleher] was absolutely outstanding. They all played good. They are good players.”
Back with a goal and an assist ???? pic.twitter.com/y8Yfk998EY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 17, 2024
Alexis Mac Allister, who was among the goalscorers, called Salah an “amazing player”.
“He’s amazing and I’m very happy for him,” Mac Allister said of Salah,” the Argentine midfielder stated. “He’s been out and he’s been a little bit frustrated about it. But he came back and in just a couple of minutes he scored and assisted.
“He’s an amazing player, an amazing leader for us, very important. I’m very happy for him.”
Salah took his league tally to 15 goals for the season, one behind Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland, who leads the pack.
