By Lori Ewing
LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) – Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah received high praise from his manager Juergen Klopp after reaching yet another milestone in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Brentford that propelled them into second spot in the Premier League.
The 31-year-old Egyptian scored in each half to reach 200 goals in English soccer – 198 for Liverpool and two for Chelsea – and became the first player ever to score in each of Liverpool’s first six home games of the season.
“Crazy,” Klopp said marvelling about Salah, who Liverpool reportedly received a 150 million pounds ($183.33 million) bid for from Al-Ittihad in the last transfer window.
“Goal No 200 in England, right? Exceptional, played a super game today,” Klopp added. “Two players always around him, he kept the ball.
“We had so many good moments first half. “(The) composure for the first goal is insane. No doubt in that area, you see it on the scoresheet. Special player.”
Liverpool have yet to lose at their Anfield fortress this season in all competitions, winning their sixth successive league game there on Sunday.
But while Klopp was thrilled with the performance he had strong words for the schedulers who have pencilled in their next game against leaders Manchester City as a 12:30 p.m. kick-off at the Etihad on Nov. 25, right after the international break.
“How can you put the Man City game on at 12:30?” he asked reporters after the game. “These people don’t know football.
“There could be a moment when these two teams have 30 international players, we pick up the South Americans on one plane to arrive here.”
Klopp was happy with his team’s bounce-back after their 3-2 loss at Toulouse in the Europa League group stage on Thursday.
“I’m very pleased to use that opportunity … to lose against Toulouse and then react in the way we did today,” he said.
($1 = 0.8182 pounds)
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Ken Ferris)
