Football
Glenn Price, Liverpool correspondent 6y

Mohamed Salah 'was a kid at Chelsea, now he's a man' - Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has said Mohamed Salah is a now thriving as a "man" at Liverpool having been a "kid" during his unsuccessful spell at Chelsea.

After signing from Roma for what was a club-record fee in the summer, Salah is currently the top scorer in the Premier League, with his double for Liverpool against Southampton on the weekend taking his league tally to nine goals.

Liverpool missed out on the forward in 2014 when he opted to join Jose Mourinho's Chelsea from Basel -- where he would only go on to score two goals in 19 appearances at Stamford Bridge before leaving in 2015.

When asked if Salah sought revenge when returning to England with Liverpool, Klopp said: "I don't think it's like this.

"Maybe it was one reason he came back, but he's not like: 'Now I will show you the real Mo Salah.' He's completely relaxed. For sure he wanted to show a little bit he's better than that, but everyone knew it already.

"He was a kid when he came to Chelsea, and we have heard a few times that's quite difficult, and in that time they were really successful. It was quite difficult to come through.

"A little bit less muscle, a little bit less physical, and you fly through the Premier League -- not like he's flying now -- but one bodycheck, you understand. With his body shape that's now different. He's a man now, he was a kid at Chelsea, now he's a man. That's good."

On what else has changed with Salah since his two-and-a-half seasons in Serie A with Fiorentina and Roma, Klopp added: "Physicality. He is top fit. He's settled in.

"Even when we lose, this is still a fantastic club. At Melwood, it is easy to feel well and comfortable. This is quite special. I don't know a lot of English clubs, but this is really special here. All the other boys liked him from the first day without him performing already.

"They knew they had a really good player in the squad. And that's it now."

Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson says Salah's record-breaking start to the season is showing no signs of slowing up.

Salah has scored 14 goals in 18 appearances in all competitions so far this season -- the most of any player in Liverpool's history at that stage of their Anfield career, according to the Liverpool Echo.

"I just want him to keep going and, to be fair, he hasn't took his foot off the gas," Henderson told the club's official website.

"He's kept working hard in training, scoring goals, working hard in games -- it's not just his goals, it's his work-rate as well, which helps us as a team.

"He's been brilliant for all the season so far but he's got to keep it going, along with other players."

Salah's next outing will come against Spanish side Sevilla at the Sanchez Pizjuan in a Champions League match from which Liverpool are seeking a victory that could put them into the next round. And Klopp expressed his hope the player can find a further confidence boost in Spain.

When asked if Salah has exceeded his expectations, the German manager told liverpoolfc.com: "He has reached them at least, that's clear.

"I like his goals and all that stuff but we don't have to talk about that, it's in the past. I'm more interested in his performance tomorrow night. He could get confidence off this.''

Sevilla coach Eduardo Berizzo also spoke about Salah and insists his side cannot afford just to focus their attention purely on Liverpool's in-form forward. But Berizzo knows his players are going to have their hands full with him regardless.

"Salah is very fast and when he sets his game forward it becomes very dangerous,'' Berizzo said. "He takes advantage when there is absence in the centre of the field when Firmino goes down the line.

"But the care is not only for him. The [Sevilla] defensive line, in being staggered, need to use the ball and if they are going to lose it lose it away from the places where Liverpool can steal it and move forward.''

Liverpool lead Sevilla by a point in Group E, while Spartak Moscow are another two points behind in third, and Klopp wants things to be simpler by the time the sixth matchday rolls around.

"When you come to the end of the group stage the more decisive the games are,'' he said.

"It's all good so far. It's a really interesting journey in the Champions League.

"But it depends on the result tomorrow whether it will be another interesting two weeks.

"[Sevilla] are a good football playing team and that's the Champions League and how it should be.

"We're looking forward to it.''

The Sanchez Pizchuan is renowned for its atmosphere and Klopp knows that is something his players will have to handle and quieten if they are to succeed.

"The atmosphere here is really famous and it is our job to make the game not that enjoyable -- other teams try it when they come to Anfield,'' he added.

"I have played twice here with two teams -- Mainz and Dortmund -- and it [the atmosphere] depends on the performance.

"But we are not here to enjoy the atmosphere, we are here to get a result.''

Klopp is likely to keep changes to a minimum in Spain.

Goalkeeper Loris Karius comes back in for European games, while Joe Gomez is expected to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back as Klopp continues his policy of rotating the youngsters.

Emre Can and James Milner, both substitutes for Saturday's win over Southampton, are pushing for starts in midfield, with Ragnar Klavan set to continue at centre-back in the absence of the injured Joel Matip.

Press Association was used in this report.

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