Mo Salah Interview
The Egyptian King
When you've already scored over 40 goals in your debut season as a Liverpool FC player and been named as PFA Player of the Year then praise is going to come your way. Mo Salah's ears must be ringing with it.
The 2017 African Footballer of the Year reached 20 Premier League goals quicker than any other LFC player and is the second fastest (after George Allan in 1896!) to net 30 goals in our 125 year history. He's also set a new club record for the most goals in a debut season for Liverpool FC and is the first player to net 40 goals in a season for the Reds since Ian Rush in 1987.
Salah is thriving on the buzz he has created amongst Liverpool FC supporters, but the 25-year-old is also keen to hand out some praise of his own. When he arrived at Anfield from AS Roma last summer Roberto Firmino switched to the no.9 shirt so that Mo could wear no.11 and over the course of 2017/18 the pair have clicked on the pitch. He enjoys playing alongside 'Bobby'.
“Firmino is a very good player, he tries to give the team his everything, he tries to assist in goals, he works hard in the ground and outside it [in training],” says Mo. “I am happy that I play with him, when we play together he assists in many goals.
“The Brazilians’ quality is good. There is a secret in that he and I understand each other quite well – I am happy about that. His style as a striker is very different. He differs from others, but his style is good and I am very happy to be playing with him.”
There's something else that makes Salah happy – hearing his name sung by LFC supporters at Anfield and by the travelling Kop. At the last count there were SIX songs dedicated to Mo with the most popular being a reworking of 1990 James' hit Sit Down: “Mo Salah, Mo Salah, running down the wing. Salah-la-la la-la la-la la-la-lah, the Egyptian King.” He loves it!
“I'm happy to hear that song every game. I'm happy to feel the love from the fans, so I am happy about everything. The songs are very nice and I like them – the Egyptian King running down the wing and the one they sang in Porto.
“I have heard them, of course, and I am very happy how they cheer for me in both home and away matches. When I hear them, this makes me happy.
“I am happy that I feel I am popular with the fans in such a short period of time and I am happy with my life in Liverpool. This makes me extremely proud, this makes the season pass well with all the fans happy and this makes me happy on a personal level.”
