Salah on CL dream, Golden Boot race and Rush's record
Mohamed Salah's pursuit of some incredible individual records is secondary to the forward's desire to bring Liverpool success.
The Egyptian netted for the 40th time this season on Saturday with a delightful looped header over the goalkeeper as the Reds chalked up a comfortable 3-0 win against Bournemouth at Anfield.
That effort gave Salah a five-goal cushion in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot and he is now only seven short of equalling Ian Rush’s club best of 47 in a single campaign – with at least six games remaining.
The No.11 admits he is hunting both achievements but would gladly cast aside those ambitions in favour of Liverpool claiming Champions League glory next month.
“It means a lot. I try to score every game to help the team and to get the points,” said Salah, who will face his former club AS Roma in Europe, after hitting the 40-goal mark.
“That is the most important thing for us, that we play as a team, as 11 players, and so each goal for me is to help the team. It is a great feeling, of course it is a great feeling, but in the end I am just happy to score and help the team.
“If I had a choice between the Champions League and the Golden Boot, then of course it would be the Champions League, no doubt the Champions League. To win the Champions League is huge for everyone. I don’t care about the rest.”
Free video: Salah's 40 Liverpool goals
Whatever happens in the final weeks, Salah’s debut season with the Reds is set to go down as one of the greatest in history.
But could he topple a goalscoring milestone that many thought might never be touched, Rush’s haul in 1983-84?
“It is very close, just seven goals. But let’s see!” he said.
“I don’t know how many games there is to go but we have the Premier League and semi-finals of the Champions League to play. I will try my best to score again and help the team.”
If he does secure the Golden Boot, meanwhile, Salah knows the feat will have been achieved with a significant contribution from his teammates.
“I cannot lie, it is in my mind. But you can see against Bournemouth that everyone in the team tries to pass the ball to me to help me,” said the 25-year-old.
“I am happy to have this feeling. You feel all the team want to support you and want to help you score goals.
“I am also sure that Tottenham’s players try to help Harry Kane and also Manchester City’s try to help Sergio Aguero. It’s like that but in the end we play as a team.”