Klopp applauds Firmino-Mane-Salah contributions
Jürgen Klopp praised the individual and collective contributions of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah after the trio helped pick apart Hoffenheim.
The Liverpool forwards have made a fine start to the new season, and each of the four goals on Wednesday night at Anfield were either scored or created by them.
That blistering attacking display followed up Mane’s vital winner against Crystal Palace last weekend, while all three were on the scoresheet on the opening day at Watford.
Klopp’s men will hope to continue their form when Arsenal come to Merseyside on Sunday afternoon in an early test of both sides’ credentials and potential in the Premier League this term.
And in speaking to reporters ahead of the game, the manager assessed and acknowledged the efforts of Firmino, Mane and Salah so far...
On Mane…
“Sadio has made a big step; being clearer in all the situations, passing in the right moment, dribbling in the right moments, always being a goal threat. He had a long break but he has started so well. Last season he didn’t start too badly either. At Arsenal he scored a nice goal. Sadio is not at the limit. Like all these boys, he can still improve.”
On Firmino…
“He is an unbelievable player, working hard. Everybody speaks about the passing game, but it’s the challenges he makes defensively, chasing them from behind, all over the pitch. [Hoffenheim] couldn’t get rid of him. That is the character you need to make the next step with a team which is already good.”
On Salah…
“You can see Mo is on the way there. [He is] not that used to it, not using the body that much. He’s a different player to Sadio: same speed, but a different player. He played a completely different position last season. He was the second striker at Roma. He is a winger – he can play this. He has defended 500 per cent more already than he did in the whole of last season.”
LFCTV GO: The win over Hoffenheim in 90 seconds