The Sunday Mail
IAN RUSH believes Mohamed Salah is on his way to breaking his record of scoring 47 goals for Liverpool in all competitions in a single season.
Salah’s 36 goals in all competitions so far this season are 11 shy of Rush’s Liverpool record for a single campaign.
Rush netted 47 times in 65 appearances in 1983-84, as Liverpool won the European Cup, First Division and League Cup treble.
The former Liverpool striker says Salah is in the form of his life and admits he would not be surprised if the Eygpt international broke his long-standing record.
“The 47 goals is difficult and I thought that might stay but the way Salah is playing now anything can happen. I think it is realistic,” Rush said ahead of Saturday’s Liverpool Legends game against Bayern Munich at Anfield, which is raising money for the LFC Foundation.
“It is fantastic and he couldn’t have done any more. I watched him against Watford (when Salah scored four) and it is the best I’ve seen him play.
“For someone to score 47 goals would be an amazing feat and he is capable of doing it if we can get a good run in the Champions League – when I scored 47 goals we won the European Cup so it does need that little bit longer.
“We won three trophies that season and that’s what we’ve got to start doing now.”
Rush – Liverpool’s all-time record goal scorer with 346 goals – also reiterated that Salah’s personal record, however remarkable, will be insignificant if Liverpool fail to win any silverware at the end of the season.
“It’s great having individual trophies, but in my (47-goal) season we won three trophies. I’m more pleased that we won three trophies than I did scoring 47 goals.”
Rush’s remarkable season was no outlier. He followed up with 26 goals in 44 appearances in 1984-85, then recorded goal-scoring returns of 33 and 40 in the two seasons after that.
In order for Salah to maintain the same level of success in the long term, Rush concluded: “You keep looking to improve yourself every time.
“You know next season people will be looking out for you. People will be out there saying: ‘If you stop Salah from playing, then you stop Liverpool from playing and winning.’
“You’re always looking to improve each season because the opposition will be doing exactly the same. If you can’t add one or two things to your makeup, then you’re not going to do that.” – Skysports
