Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah is on his way to being compared to Lionel Messi.
The Egyptian took his tally to 36 goals in all competitions with four in Liverpool’s hammering of Watford which extended his lead as the Premier League’s top scorer.
He has now scored more goals than any other Reds player has managed in their debut season, another of several records broken in an unprecedented first year.
Comparisons to Anfield greats have been plentiful but Klopp says the forward is now on his way to being compared to Barcelona superstar Messi.
He said: “I think Mo is on the way.
“I don’t think Mo or anybody else wants to be compared with Lionel Messi – he is the one who has been doing what he’s been doing for what feels like 20 years or so.
“The last player I know who had the same influence on a team performance was Diego Maradona.
“But Mo is in a fantastic way, that’s for sure. As it always is in life, if you have to have the skills you have to show that constantly and consistently, and he is very good. He helps us a lot.
“The boys love playing together with him, he loves playing with them so it’s good. He gave us a good four goals.
“I think that’s quite exceptional and another good performance.”