Liverpool hero Mohamed Salah has been tipped to replicate Cristiano Ronaldo's career longevity thanks to both his football intelligence and youthful body
Mohamed Salah turned 31 in June - but isn't slowing down (Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah may be in his 30s but Jurgen Klopp believes he’s got the body of a 20-year-old - and the football brain of a veteran.
The Egyptian ace, 31, continues to shine with no signs of slowing down as the records continue to tumble. Salah got his ninth goal of the season as a substitute in Thursday’s win over Toulouse in the Europa League to become the record goalscorer in European football for a player at an English club.
But now his game is far more than just goals as he has become as much of a chance creator as his career develops. Salah has created nine big chances in the Premier League so far this season ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Nottingham Forest.
That’s more than any other play while his four assists are just behind James Maddison and Ollie Watkins on five. Now in Liverpool’s 2.0 team, Salah’s role has changed as he continues to build a relationship with the likes of Darwin Nunez after thriving with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
“Of course, the young Mo was a super fast player who could run in behind and play a role together with [Edin] Dzeko at Roma,” said the Liverpool boss. Dzeko would roll the ball or deflect it and Mo was there.
“From the first day here he had to do different things, he adapted extremely well but the playmaker in that front row was probably more Bobby Firmino setting things up and you don’t need then two players who are deeper.
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 400 goals since turning 30 (Image: Getty Images)
“It is not that good anyway, you need players in the box and to bring the ball over the line. So now it is slightly different especially when Darwin is playing we have another speed player up there so that changed Mo’s position definitely.
“He is smart enough to adapt to all these things and there has been a massive development since he arrived. He is such a good player we appreciate him and everyone will appreciate him even more after his career because then you will say, ‘wow. We saw something really special.”
Salah may be 31 but the signs are there that he will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and play well into his 30s.
“Mo doesn’t behave like that [he is 31] at all,” said Klopp. "Off the pitch he behaves is a grown man, beyond that he is still a young player. He is top fit I think if we were to scan him the majority of the bones are aged 19 or 20! He just keeps himself in such good shape.
“It is to do with game understanding. They all know an awful lot about football when they finish their careers at the age of 35, but the earlier in their career you get this information the more useful they are.
“Obviously with Mo it is clear he understands the spaces much better, he knows how players react around him and then if he cannot score, he can still be a threat for us. I cannot compare Mo to other 30 year olds, because I don't think biologically he is!”
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