Mo Salah more worried about Liverpool than Golden Boot, says Klopp

  • Mohamed Salah has 30 Premier League goals and is four ahead of Harry Kane
  • Lots has been made of Golden Boot race but Jurgen Klopp says focus is on team
  • Klopp insists Salah cares more about whether team finish in the league’s top four
  • Liverpool boss also praised Arsene Wenger on day he quit Arsenal after 22 years

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has played down Mohamed Salah’s Golden Boot ambitions, insisting the striker’s main aims are a top-four spot and reaching the Champions League final.

Salah is on 30 goals for the campaign and in pole position to deny Tottenham’s Harry Kane (26) the chance to be crowned the Premier League’s top-scorer for a third straight season.

But Klopp, whose side head into this weekend’s game at West Brom in third spot and are also preparing for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Roma next week, said at his pre-match press conference: ‘The main target for Mo as well is to finish in the Champions League spots and go to the final.

Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah cares more about the team than personal achievements

Salah is winning the race for the Golden Boot on 30 goals and is four ahead of Harry Kane

Salah is winning the race for the Golden Boot on 30 goals and is four ahead of Harry Kane

RACE FOR THE GOLDEN BOOT

30 – Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

26 – Harry Kane (Tottenham)

21 – Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)

17 – Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

16 – Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

‘We have to play normal football and if Mo is at his best he will be a goal threat. We don’t have to change anything.’

Klopp was also quick to react to the huge exit of Arsene Wenger as Arsenal manager, announced shortly before the Liverpool boss faced the media. 

‘I heard it when I came in this morning and I was surprised but it is his decision and you have to respect that,’ said Klopp, whose side face West Brom on Saturday. 

‘He was – and is still – an influencer in football.

Klopp also praised the longevity of Arsene Wenger after he announced his Arsenal exit

Klopp also praised the longevity of Arsene Wenger after he announced his Arsenal exit

Klopp and Wenger have had many battles over the years, at both Dortmund and Liverpool

Klopp and Wenger have had many battles over the years, at both Dortmund and Liverpool

‘He has a fantastic career, an outstanding personality and a really big player in the business where usually the thing changes overnight and he was there for so long. How many years? (22). That’s long and very successful. 

‘Maybe in the last few months not everyone was happy any more about this or that result but that is normal. He always developed teams and brought in fantastic players and was the dominating guy in the mid-90s and 2000s when he was winning pretty much everything playing wonderful football.

‘I always admired his work – since I’ve been in England it is a bit different as we have to challenge – but when I was in Germany he was always a big role model in the job and it will be different without him.

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