Jurgen Klopp reveals the work behind the return of Mohamed Salah to Liverpool



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Jurgen Klopp believes that Mohamed Salah is back at his best level while Liverpool is looking to ensure his pass in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Egyptian striker will lead the attack against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

After last season's superb 44-goal campaign, Salah had a slow campaign start and lacked confidence as he had scored only three times in 11 appearances with the Reds.

However, in the past month, he has found six goals in his last seven games for Liverpool.

Klopp said that Salah just needed time to regain his physical climax after the shoulder injury he had suffered in the Champions League final and that he did not have the time. had only a short summer break for the World Cup.



Jurgen Klopp with Mohamed Salah

"It's not about scoring goals, it's just about overall performance. His body is back – the physical things he can still rely on, "said Klopp.

"Of all the teams, we had the longest season with Real Madrid. They struggled a bit. We both had a season two weeks longer than all the other teams.

"After that, they all went to the World Cup. Egypt came out earlier but Mo played 94% or 95% in the form of the shoulder.

"He did not have a problem with the shoulder anymore, it was not his pain, but being healthy does not mean you're 100%.

"Then he had two or three weeks off. This is actually nothing. It's exactly the time the body needs to calm down a bit.

"The first three weeks of vacation for all players after such an intense season, you do not even feel at rest. You always have the season in your legs and your mind. Then the pre-season starts again.



Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the first goal in the match between Watford and Liverpool
Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring the first goal in the match between Watford and Liverpool

Salah also had to deal with increased pressure on his shoulders after rewriting the record book in 2017/18. Only Ian Rush scored more goals for Liverpool in one season.

When he did not touch the ground during the exercise and was caught at random, the spotlight inevitably fell to him.

Klopp added: "For the first time in his life, it was clear that after scoring more than 40 goals, how do we manage that?

"Obviously, you've all had trouble managing that. Will he score 40 goals again?

You can not score 40 goals in the first three games and how can he be 100% convinced that he still scores 40 goals? Is it even important to score 40 goals again? Of course not.

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PSG v Liverpool

"It's just a personal situation. Are we talking about it or not? Are we going away? He always tried everything. The only thing was that his body needed time to adapt.

"Still a world class player, always a threat in a match, but in scoring situations, not the same calm, cool, whatever.

"Before the last international break, it was completely obvious at each session, he clicked again, he is there.

"It was just a time factor. It's just that we do not give them time because we do not have the time. The season begins – "be ready".

"If you doubt easily, it could affect you, but not for a second, he doubted and me either. Nobody here really doubted.

Klopp takes stock of his mane injury


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"All is well, even Mo Salah is a human being and he needed time, everything is fine."

Salah scored 13 goals in 19 Champions League matches for Liverpool – only Rush (14) and Steven Gerrard (30) scored more for the Reds in the European club competition.

The 26-year-old will be desperate to add to his account in the French capital. The win would allow Klopp's players to qualify for the last 16 games with a losing game as long as Belgrade Red Star does not win in Naples.

Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino will face the PSG trio Edinson Cavani, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

This powerful half-dozen scored 180 goals between them in 2017/18 and has already scored 57.



Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum turns with the ball under pressure from Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain
Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum turns with the ball under pressure from Kylian Mbappe of Paris St-Germain

Klopp is a big admirer of young French Mbappe, PSG's top scorer with 13 goals this season.

The boss of the Reds tried to sign the winner of the World Cup, aged 19, in the summer of 2017, before moving to Paris from Monaco for an amount of 162 million pounds.

"In this age group, he is the star player – a really exciting prospect," Klopp said.

"It was not so long ago that we saw an 18-year-old play the season with Monaco – it was unbelievable – it looks so ripe and well-tuned in all competitions.

"At this age, playing a World Cup can shake you up a bit, but it did not look like that with him, he's really confident and knows his strength.

"You can not be 100% sure of having defended him because his speed is indefensible, he is faster than 97% of the other players in the world.



Kylian Mbappe warms up before the match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Anfield
Kylian Mbappe warms up before the match between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain in Anfield

"If you go at the right time, it means that the space belongs to him and that he has the necessary skills to score, he is a fantastic player.

"When you see the guys dominate the world of football like Messi and Ronaldo in recent years, and in previous years, Barcelona guys: Xavi and Iniesta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, all these players.

"You think that there really is someone who can play a similar role in a more difficult football – because modern football has become more difficult for these players – and you look and think" Oh yes ".

"It's not the only one, but it's the one that everyone is expecting now and if he stays healthy, he'll have a decent career."

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