Liverpool cult hero Steve McManaman described Mohamed Salah as a “genius” in the Reds’ Europa League win over LASK at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool charges made light work of their opponents as they cruised to a 4-0 win that put them into the knockout stages of the competition.
McManaman, commentating on TNT Sports, commented on a Salah chance shortly before half time.
The £34million man’s effort was kept out by Tobias Lawal, and while McManaman praised the Liverpool man, he wasn’t keen on his chance.
“Salah is a genius but that didn’t look like that was ever going to trouble the goalkeeper,” he said, as transcribed by BBC Sport.
Nonetheless, Salah – who had already claimed an assist – did get on the scoresheet later on, netting a penalty in the 51st minute of the match.
‘Best player on the pitch by some distance’
That was the Reds’ third goal of the encounter, after Luis Diaz opened the scoring in the 12th minute and Cody Gakpo added a second three minutes later.
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Gakpo then rounded off the scoring with a goal in second-half injury time which capped off a superb performance for Liverpool en route to the knockout stages of the competition.
The result put the Reds four points clear of second-placed Toulouse, who were held 0-0 at home to Union SG on Thursday night.
Liverpool now have a dead rubber against Union SG on December 14, and then they don’t have to think about the Europa League until March.
Job done, now the Reds can focus on the Premier League. And the Carabao Cup, and the FA Cup.
The Liverpool Echo loved what they saw from Salah. They gave him an 8 out of 10 rating and wrote that he was “the best player on the pitch by some distance.
He “almost toyed with his markers, and assisted the second before slotting home from the spot for the third.”