Who do Liverpool need to sign to re-claim the title? Keep up with all the Reds news with our free daily newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Mo Salah is proving his world-class pedigree – by resisting the temptation to act like a superstar. That was the message from Jurgen Klopp as he took aim at critics starting to question the Liverpool icon’s contribution. Salah has scored just twice this season, prompting ­suggestions he is misfiring or even trying too hard to replicate his record-breaking form of last term. Yet the Reds boss said that he could not be happier with Salah, describing the ­Egyptian’s displays in the last two games – against Tottenham in the Premier League and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League – as among the best of his Liverpool career. (Image: PA) And that, he said, is ­because Salah knows that to be world-class, work ethic comes above superstar status. “The PSG game was one of his best, 100 per cent,” said Klopp. “Defensively, he was ­outstanding the last two games. I’ve said a few times, without the three forwards in running mode, we have no chance. “These things are so ­important. People say you are a world-class player, but you still have to defend like in the first game of your career. You need to be brave for that.” (Image: REUTERS) Ironically, Klopp is ­considering giving Salah a rest against Southampton on Saturday, suggesting it is time to offer Xherdan Shaqiri his first start. “Everyone loves Shaq – without playing plenty of minutes. That is more my mistake than his. He has done everything to play. I made different decisions, but his time will come, that is for sure,” Klopp added. But the German also recognises Salah has worked harder than at any time in his Liverpool career to offer defensive resilience and attacking threat and so needs a break. (Image: REUTERS) “Mo knows that I am more than happy with him in this moment. There is no doubt about that. “Bobby [Firmino] took a while before he got credit for his work rate,” he explained. “I don’t want to make defenders out of them, but they have to be in the right position. “On the defensive side, perfect, and it is so important in these games, especially as that says everything about him – that he is ready to work for the team.” Klopp insisted he does not need to speak to Salah to stop him being anxious about scoring, because he knows the goals will come. (Image: Andrew Powell) “It’s much too early to be thinking about something like that and you have to make a big thing of it,” he said of the claim Salah is trying too hard to score. “Last year, three in six, this year two in six. Wow, that’s a crisis. Yes, there were a few chances where he could have scored. But last year he missed chances. “It’s much too early to make something of it and talk to him constantly about what and when and stuff like that. So long as he is working as he is, everything will be fine. “Will it be 40 at the end of the season? Nobody knows. But we don’t have to talk about this even though everyone else wants to. And that’s why we don’t do it.”<doc-sep>LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp said he is not worried about Mohamed Salah's start to the campaign and believes the forward is being harshly compared to last season's standards. Salah broke the Premier League record for most goals scored in a 38-game season in 2017-18 and has started the follow-up campaign with two goals in six appearances. He began last season, his first at Liverpool following a move from Roma, with three goals in six outings and then went on to score 44 times in all competitions. "Of course, of course everyone expects that [he matches last season's form]," Klopp said at a news conference on Friday. "We don't expect that. We want him to score as often as possible. It is completely normal everyone expects that." When told about Salah's start to this season compared to last, Klopp added: "Wow, that's a crisis. "No one remembers that, it is really no problem. We constantly have to deal with new situations. "People are very positive about this player, this player, and I have to decide do I talk to them about them or not, do I leave him alone in this situation, but everything is fine really." Salah committed an error during Tuesday's 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain when he gave away possession in the buildup to Kylian Mbappe's equalising goal.<doc-sep>The 26-year-old has gone three games without finding the back of the net and his boss is upbeat that he will soon overcome the challenge Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah ‘is still a threat’ to oppositions despite his drought in front of goal. The Egypt international who notched 44 goals across all competitions last season has failed to find the back of the net in his last three games – his joint-longest run without a goal since joining the Anfield outfit. Also, in Tuesday Champions League game against Paris Saint Germain, the forward made an error that helped Kylian Mbappe's equaliser before Roberto Firmino’s stoppage-time winner. "The defensive side the last two games were outstanding, perfect," Klopp told Sky Sport. "It is so important in these games especially. That says everything about him that he is really ready to work for the team in these moments. "It is a completely normal for an offensive player when you have times that you don't score. He is still a threat, made fantastic situations in both our last games. He is in a good shape. Article continues below "Finishing is something you can never take for granted." Salah will be hoping to get on the scoresheet when Liverpool play host to Southampton in Saturday’s Premier League outing.<doc-sep>
Jean Catuffe/Getty Images Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has backed Mohamed Salah amid his mini goal drought, saying it is "completely normal" for even the best attacking players to struggle at times. The Egypt international scored 44 goals in all competitions for the Reds last term, but he has only two in six so far in 2018-19 and has not found the net in his last three appearances. Per Glenn Price of ESPN FC, Klopp said he has no concerns about his star forward and praised Salah for his defensive work recently: "On the defensive side, the last two games he was outstanding. It is completely normal there are times when an offensive player does not score. Finishing is something you can never take for granted. I never do that—only supporters can do that. We want him to score as often as possible. It's really no problem. But with Mo, everything is fine." Jean Catuffe/Getty Images Even without Salah at his best Klopp's Liverpool have begun the 2018-19 season with six wins on the bounce. Their most recent victory was against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, when Roberto Firmino netted a last-minute winner to seal a 3-2 victory. The Reds are back in Premier League action against Southampton at Anfield on Saturday. In the corresponding fixture last season Salah netted twice in a 3-0 victory. Video Play Button Videos you might like As a result of his heroics in 2017-18, the 26-year-old is among the finalists for the 2018 Best FIFA Men's Player award: The winner will be decided on Monday at a ceremony in London. Should Salah win he will be the first Liverpool player ever to win the FIFA gong in any of its guises.