Liverpool are banking on Golden Boot-chasing Mo Salah to fire them to victory over bitter rivals Manchester United tomorrow night and keep their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League alive.
With 20 goals this term, the Egyptian is one strike behind rival Harry Kane of Tottenham.
And goals against United tonight will go a long way to closing the gap to fourth-placed Leicester, who were six points ahead of the Reds against their clash with the Red Devils last night.
Having racked up a kwaai total of 123 goals and 42 assists in ahead of what will be his 200th game for the Reds tonight, assistant coach Pep Lijnders has no doubts about Salah’s ability in the big games.
He says: “The way he can keep the ball in the hardest situations and find a way to come out and score, that’s what identifies him.
“In the most influential games he was everywhere to be found. He is so much more than a ‘striker’ for us.”
Meanwhile, United fenced up Old Trafford ahead of this week’s games to avoid fan protests from stopping matches after their initial fixture with the Reds was postponed from last Sunday.