Virgil van Dijk has sung the praises of Liverpool’s front three, with Jurgen Klopp believing Mohamed Salah can win the Ballon d’Or.
Liverpool are the leading scorers in the Premier League this season with 22 goals from just eight games, sitting second in the division after thrashing Watford 5-0 at Vicarage Road this weekend.
Salah scored his seventh league goal of the season against the Hornets and has been in scintillating form during the opening months of the campaign, with Klopp lauding the Egyptian as the best player in world football following his latest star showing.
The 29-year-old has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or following his performances across the past two seasons and Klopp has backed the forward for individual acclaim following his goalscoring consistency.
“Yes [he can win the Ballon d’Or],” Klopp said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Atletico Madrid tomorrow.
“I have no idea how you win the Ballon d’Or. If it’s about being in the Champions League final and scoring the most goals, it may be difficult, but if it’s on the form of the last two years, then he has a chance. Internally he always got the recognition, externally I don’t know.
“After the two goals he has scored people, all of a sudden, think he could be [the best in the world]. He has scored like this before and has performed on the highest level for many years. He will do it again and again. Whatever you want to write about him, do it, he deserves it, but now we prepare for Atletico.”
Van Dijk also discussed the performances of Salah and says the forward’s ‘numbers speak for themselves’, though was quick to praise the other members of Liverpool’s front three after both Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane were on the scoresheet at Watford.
“We know what he [Salah] is capable of and I think he has been showing it for a longer period,” the Dutch defender said. “It’s not as if people have just started talking about it. His numbers speak for themselves. He is a fantastic player. We have such a great team.
“Sadio [Mane] also scored his 100th Premier League goal which we should talk about a bit more as well because it’s not normal. And Bobby [Firmino] scores a hat-trick.
“We have a group of boys who give everything for each other, and to see them shining, is satisfying. We all have a job to do and everyone knows their responsibilities.”
