Jurgen Klopp has hailed the goalscoring drive of Mohamed Salah after he scored a ‘fantastic goal’ against Maribor in Wednesday’s Uefa Champions League tie.
Having thumped the Purples 7-0 a fortnight ago in Slovenia, Darko Milanič’s men set up with a plan to frustrate the Kops at Anfield.
And after a goalless first half, the Egypt international outsmarted the visitors' defence to score the opener, four minutes after the interval.
Further goals from Emre Can and substitute Daniel Sturridge gave Klopp’s side a 3-0 victory. And the German tactician has lauded the 25-year-old’s eye for goal.
“He is a very offensive midfielder, if not a striker,” Klopp said after the game.
“He likes these situations. He used his speed even in the small space, coming in behind. That was the problem in the first half, that we prepared the direction but we didn’t use the runs often enough.
“Roberto [Firmino] is clear that he needs to be there for the one-twos, for keeping the ball so we can push up.
“Ox [Chamberlain] and Mo offered these ways very often but then we didn’t play the ball. It’s about patience, but it’s as well about doing the right things with perfect timing because it’s easy to lose patience in a game like this.
“The end of the first half looked a little bit like this; second half, we were again there and decided the game pretty early.
“Second half, a fantastic goal; good timing, a good cross but good timing of Mo as well, coming into the box and being in the centre,” he added.
The goal was Salah’s tenth in all competition for Liverpool this season.