ReactionIan Rush on Mohamed Salah: 'It's a huge achievement to reach 200 goals'

Ian Rush scored a total of 346 goals in a red shirt between 1980 and 1996, but even he struggles to believe the heights Mohamed Salah has scaled since the Egyptian’s arrival at Anfield six-and-a-half years ago.

Salah struck his 200th Liverpool goal on Saturday at Crystal Palace, reaching the milestone in 327 games and further consolidating his fifth spot on the all-time Reds list topped by Rush.

“It’s a huge achievement in itself to get to 200 goals,” Rush told Liverpoolfc.com. “Not many do that, so first things first, congratulations on that!

“His impact has been phenomenal, and he’s not only a quality footballer, but a fantastic role model for people in different parts of the world. In Egypt, he’s a god, and he’s given boys and girls there the belief that they can go on and be a professional footballer. That’s the sort of person he is.”

Salah arrived on Merseyside from AS Roma in 2017 and delivered an instantaneous impact, scoring 44 goals in all competitions in his first season with Liverpool.

He went on to tally at least 23 in each of the five full campaigns that followed, and has already raced to 14 strikes so far in this season.

“As a player he can hardly do any more,” Rush says. “I watch him now, and his overall game is a million times better than when he first came.

“When he came, he was scoring goals for fun. Now he’s scoring goals for fun and making them for fun! His assists are just as important as his goals now, which shows how much of an all-round player he has become.”

To those who know him, Salah’s exploits are no surprise. Jürgen KIopp has spoken about his No.11’s relentless nature, his desire to reach the highest possible levels, while teammates at the AXA Training Centre marvel at his conditioning and professionalism. On and off the pitch, Salah is viewed as a standard-bearer.

“His mentality is incredible,” says Rush. “Mental toughness is the most important thing for a forward, I think.

“If I missed 10 chances it wouldn’t worry me, because I would always think I’m going to score the next one. Without that toughness you will find it really difficult.

“Mo has definitely got that toughness. He believes, always. He knows he’s there to deliver, and he embraces that.”

Rush added: “I have spoken to him quite a bit. We talk about the game, and what stands out is that desire for constant improvement.

“Even if we go back to the Champions League final in Kyiv [in 2018] when he injured his shoulder. What did he do? He went away and he came back bigger and stronger. You look at his physique now, he looks like he’s never going to get injured!

“Some people would have felt sorry for themselves, but he said, ‘No, I’m going to do the work, make myself stronger and improve.’

“And he did. He’s improving all the time. His all-round play now is great, but that comes from his mentality. He analyses his bad games as much as his good ones, and finds ways to correct his mistakes and come back stronger.

“That’s what makes him a special player.”

Rush smiles when asked to recall his favourites from Salah’s first 200 goals for Liverpool.

“There have been so many!’ he said. “And the beauty of Mo is that he scores every type of goal. He’s just as happy getting a rebound off the goalkeeper as he is smashing one in from outside the box.

“But two goals stand out, both against Manchester City. The one at Anfield where he dribbled them [in 2021]. And the other one I always liked was the one where Alisson assisted him [in 2022]. They’re the two I think about.

“Big games, you see. Salah scores against the top teams, gets the big goals which matter, and that’s the sign of a top player.

“To win 1-0 in a big game and to score the winner, that’s more satisfying for me than a hat-trick in a 6-0 win.”

Now, of course, Salah sets off in search of yet more goals, yet more milestones and yet more trophies.

Rush’s all-time record may still be a long way off, but the Reds legend would be delighted to see the Egyptian King get close to his tally in the coming weeks, months and years.

“I just congratulate him on his records, which seem to come every week!” Rush finishes. “But he always says the same to me about my goals. He once asked me if I’d counted my goals in training!

“Listen, it’s great holding records, but they are there to be broken, and if he breaks one of mine, then great. That means Liverpool are being successful, and the club always comes first.

“Mo loves breaking records, but if he does so, then first and foremost that means the team is successful, and that’s what we all want.

“But I can only congratulate him on what he’s achieved so far. He’s a special player. The crowd loves him, and let’s hope he’s here for a few more years.”

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