Liverpool’s new Premier League record goalscorer Mohamed Salah admits it is a landmark he has chased since he arrived at the club in 2017.
The Egypt international’s two goals in the 7-0 thrashing of arch-rivals Manchester United were his 128th and 129th in the club’s top flight, and with his second – his sixth of the game – he surpassed Robbie Fowler’s Premier League tally.
“It’s very strange, I can’t lie. That record has been on my mind since I came here,” Salah, who earlier in the week became only the second Liverpool player to score 20 goals in a sixth consecutive season after Ian Rush, told Sky Sports.
“I think after his first season (when he won the Golden Boot with a remarkable 32 league goals) I was always chasing that record.
“To beat it today against United with a result like that is unbelievable.
Manager Jurgen Klopp has long ceased to be amazed by Salah’s performances on the pitch, but even he had to praise him after this game.
“Mo Salah did something really, really special tonight – we shouldn’t forget that just because we’re used to him scoring a lot of goals,” the Reds boss said.
“A very special, very special boy and he should be really proud.
While Salah’s performance added to the long list of achievements he has amassed at the club, a fourth win in five games – and a fifth clean sheet in a row – moved the team within three points of fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand and Spurs still to come to Anfield.
That was more significant for Klopp, whose side are gaining momentum at a time when their top-four rivals are hitting some inconsistent form, with this season’s new signings Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo also scoring twice and Roberto Firmino dropping out. off the bench, he scored his first goal since injury in November.
“Sensational result, really top performance. The way we started the game was really special, the best for a long, long, long, long, long time. We were super alive,” he added.
“In a way, I think everyone saw how good the guys could be.
“I liked the performance, I loved the three points and the result is also good, but I don’t take it that way.
“We’ve seen what a positive result can do for the boys. We’re up 7-0, someone plays the ball to Luke Shaw, a reverse pass and we’re chasing it with four players and then you think, ‘What are we doing here?’
“How much adrenaline it gives you and how much positivity it gives you.”
