LONDON – Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said that Mohamed Salah’s statistics were “insane” as the Egyptian striker’s brace earned his side a 2-1 English Premier League win at Tottenham Hotspur.
After back-to-back league losses, Salah gave Liverpool a two-goal lead before half-time and Liverpool weathered a second-half storm after Harry Kane pulled back a goal.
Salah is now three goals away from moving above Kenny Dalglish in the list of Liverpool’s all-time top scorers and Klopp said he would not be stopping there.
“Kenny Dalglish, Robbie Fowler, they probably had times where they didn’t score,” Klopp said according to Reuters. “Mo will not stop, he is in the top eight scorers for Liverpool and he will not stop.
“When you look at Mo’s stats, goals and assists, it’s insane.”
Salah has only six Premier League goals this season but looks to be back to his best which is good news for Liverpool as they try to repair the damage of a poor start to the season.
He has been involved in scoring or assisting 19 goals from 20 games in all competitions this season, a figure he has bettered only once at this stage in his six seasons with the club.
“Even with a ‘slow start’, he was involved in most chances in Europe, but we didn’t take them or he didn’t take them,” Klopp said.
“That can happen for a striker, it’s a completely normal phase… in the end when you look back on his career in four, five or six years, everybody will remember one of the best strikers you ever saw.
“What pleased me the most, he scored the two goals and then he played like a real, real team player.”
After losses to Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, Klopp celebrated wildly at the end and he admitted winning at Tottenham could be a big moment for his team who moved up to eighth place in the table.
“Yeah, I got a bit carried away but it was big, absolutely big,” he said.
Arsenal ended champions Manchester City’s short stay at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Chelsea that reinforced their credentials as genuine title challengers.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte said he was disappointed with the fans booing his side at half-time during their 2-1 home defeat by Liverpool.
It was not the way the Italian wanted to mark his first anniversary in charge of the north London club as Tottenham slipped down to fourth in the table.
“First of all I think we have to show a great respect all the time for our fans,” Conte told reporters. “They are our fans and they pay their tickets.
“At the same time, if you ask me if I was a bit disappointed (about the booing), yes. Because it’s important in every moment to be honest and I think I always continue to repeat, we have just started a process.
“I think after a year we have made a lot of improvement. If someone thinks after just a year we’re ready to win, I say it would be really, really difficult.
“Liverpool is a really good example that you need time and patience. If we have this everybody is okay. If not, then we can lose our passion and our enthusiasm.”
While a second successive home league defeat was painful, Tottenham did more than enough to earn something from the game with a vibrant second-half display.
Mohamed Salah had given Liverpool a 2-0 lead by halftime with a brace as Tottenham, yet again, started a game slowly.
But Harry Kane replied after the break and Tottenham went close to hauling Liverpool back with constant pressure.
Tottenham fans have been disgruntled at times this season because of a perceived lack of flair on the pitch and Conte’s so-called conservative tactics.
But the side has qualified for the Champions League last 16 and is well-placed in the league.
Conte said his side was still far from challenging for trophies, although with Son Heung-min and Richarlison both injured they were at a disadvantage on Sunday.
“When Tottenham is missing these players it’s not like other clubs. Tottenham can’t afford to lose all these important players. We are managing the situation in the best possible way,” he said.
“I am experienced enough to be able to say that we are far from other teams who are used to winning.”
The one bright spot was the return from injury of Swede Dejan Kulusevski who made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, setting up Kane for Tottenham’s goal.
A second-half goal by Brazilian defender Gabriel earned Mikel Arteta’s side their 11th win in 13 league games and they have now beaten Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea.
