PreviewMohamed Salah interview: The test of Manchester City and the secrets to his stellar season
Mohamed Salah says meetings with Manchester City are always difficult and expects Liverpool’s latest trip to Etihad Stadium to be no different.
The Reds travel for Sunday’s 4.30pm GMT kick-off as Premier League leaders and have collected 17 more points than City so far this season, although Pep Guardiola’s side have played one game fewer.
However, the rivalry between the clubs has produced contests of the highest quality in recent years and Salah knows how much of a test awaits this weekend.
“It’s going to be tough. We play Man City away so they are always going to be the favourite to win in their home, but we’ll go there and give it a try,” the Egyptian said.
“City will always be City. They have one of the greatest managers ever and they have great players – they have played at the top level for many years, they won everything in the club. They are always going to be a strong side and they always can win a game at any time.
“So, I think the game is going to be very tough. They have the advantage that they are going to play at home and they have experienced players also, so we just need to stay calm and give it a try.”
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Salah is enjoying another stellar season and leads the Premier League player charts in both goals (24) and assists (15).
His strike against Aston Villa last time out took him to within one goal of Gordon Hodgson in third place on Liverpool’s all-time top scorers list and he has netted 29 times across all competitions already in 2024-25.
He was asked how, at the age of 32, he continues to raise the bar in terms of performance.
“It’s fun, it’s different but I see it in a different way now. I am more experienced,” Salah replied.
“When you are one of the senior players in the group you have to care not just on the field. In the past, when I came here in the first year, I probably was thinking just about the field and playing, and not about the players.
“But now, for example, I was downstairs early and Virgil [van Dijk] came in second and we were just talking about the result [against Villa], that we are not happy and what we can improve and what we can change. So, things change with time.
“I do work on my body almost every day and I also work mentally, to stay focused and stay calm.”
Salah’s creativity has seen him record 20 assists in total so far this term and he detailed how he has become more attuned to his teammates throughout his Anfield career.
The No.11 added: “I think I am trying to study more their game and not just my game. In the past I think I used to just know my game and they needed to adapt to me.
“Now, with time and if you want to improve yourself, you need to adapt to their games as well so I study their games. I watch the players most of the time when they train and when they play.
“I go home and watch as well sometimes… I need to adapt my game to their game so that is making me improve in that part.”
