Liverpool

Liverpool

Premier League • England

‘Not world class’ – Boss redefines Salah when asked how he’ll stop Liverpool ace

Mohamed-Salah-Hat-Trick-Manchester-United

Brighton boss Graham Potter created a new category even higher than ‘world class’ when speaking about how to halt Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah this weekend.

Salah, 29, is arguably the best player in world football right now. His most recent showing saw a hat-trick plundered as Manchester United were put to the sword at Old Trafford.

That ensured the Egyptian extended his scoring streak in consecutive games to 10 matches and upped his tally across all competitions for the season to 15.

Next in Salah and Liverpool’s sights are Brighton, who themselves are enjoying a stellar season.

And speaking in his press conference ahead of the fixture, Potter was asked how he’ll go about preparing a plan to stop Salah.

“That’s a very good question,” said Potter, before going on to declare Salah to be even better than world class at present.

The Seagulls boss quipped: “At the moment he’s not world class, he’s out-of-this-world class!

“He is producing in all the big games too – Chelsea, Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United.

Bayern Munich join Liverpool, Manchester United in Youri Tielemans race

Bayern Munich join Liverpool, Manchester United in Youri Tielemans race

Bayern Munich have reportedly joined the race with Liverpool and Manchester United for Leicester's Youri Tielemans, with more updates on Florian Wirtz and Robert Lewandowski.

“But, unfortunately for us, it’s not just him who is a top, top player for Liverpool.

“It’s a team. These top teams have wonderful individual players but they are also a unit and a team and we must try to deal with that.”


Six big-name players who failed to make the cut as a manager


Potter lauds Anfield atmosphere

Potter’s side did deal with it last season. They won 1-0 at Anfield to kickstart a run of four successive league defeats for the Reds that all but ended their title defence hopes.

That victory came in an empty stadium as football continued to feel the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Brighton boss knows his team face a tough task to repeat that feat when they return to Anfield.

“Anything is possible of course. But it is the most challenging footballing environment there is. Anfield with a crowd is a completely different animal, I would suggest, than what it is without,” said Potter.

“You need everything pretty much to go your way if you want to try to get a result at Anfield.

“You’ve to be perfect yourselves. You have to be together. You have to be resilient and play at such a high level and then you have to hope that they have a bit of an off day as well. Because while we are in the same league, we are not at the same level as them.

“We can learn and use that experience last season but I would suggest we will have to step it up again.”

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool plan to make Salah highest earner revealed, as contract claims rubbished