We’re getting this from a mighty fine piece by Neil Jones, friend of EOTK.
He used to work for the Echo but is now the Liverpool correspondent at Goal.
The journalist has explained how Jurgen Klopp and his coaching staff drew up a plan in the summer that would enable Mo Salah to score bundles of goals.
The idea was that the former Roma man would take advantage of his pace and the intricacy of Roberto Firmino, by coming off the flank and looking to advance ahead of our Brazilian focal point.
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It’s obviously worked as the Egyptian has notched 40 so far, only one of which came from the penalty spot.
Jones writes:
“Repetitive training drills focused on getting him to play ‘inside’ rather than ‘outside’. The idea was that Liverpool’s full-backs would provide the width in the team, with Salah, Mane and Firmino free to wreak havoc infield – “organised mayhem,” is how one observer puts it.”
But interestingly, on his competitive debut, Salah was picking up the wrong positions and isolating himself – much to the early dismay of Klopp – who quickly let him know his feelings.
“Still, there were teething problems,” Jones continues. “Liverpool’s first league game of the season was at Watford, and Klopp spent the first half of it annoyed. Salah, he saw, was playing too high and too wide. He was making himself too easy to mark.
“The message was relayed at half-time and it got through. After the break the No.11 won a penalty, converted by Firmino, and then notched his first Reds goal – a poacher’s effort from a couple of yards out. The game finished 3-3.
“Since then, there has been development at every turn. Salah looks a perfect fit for Klopp’s side; his confidence has soared and his performance levels have barely dipped below ‘exceptional’.”
Judging by this then, it took Salah all of 45 minutes to adjust to Klopp’s tactics and the Premier League!
That probably explains why he’s become only the third Liverpool player of all time to reach 40 goals in a season.
Hopefully, our 25-year-old isn’t finished yet. We’ve got four more Premier League matches and at least two more in the Champions League…
Klopp and Salah really are the perfect match, and that’s why we’re utterly confident our new superstar will stay for years to come.