Milner: Salah Is a Top Player

Along with scoring on his debut, Mohamed Salah displayed the devastating speed and threat Liverpool were looking for in attack. The club's first major signing of the summer is up and running in a similar manner to Sadio Mané during last year's pre-season matches. The prospect of both running at defenders should hearten even the most cautious of Liverpool fans, and the reaction of one man not prone to unbecoming hyperbole underlines the talents of the Egyptian international.

James Milner, Liverpool's vice-captain and current first-choice left back, shared his thoughts from the brief time spent with Salah. While Milner can hardly criticise a new signing, he isn't one for offering insincere adoration. The 25-year-old wide attacker made a good start albeit against lowly opposition in the form of Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

"[Salah was] very good," Milner told the official site. "He’s a top player, he’s shown that in the little time that he’s been here and I’ve seen it playing up close also. He’s a great addition to the squad and it was nice for him to get off the mark as well."

Milner also had words of praise for Liverpool's front three of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, and the former Chelsea and AS Roma speedster. It was interesting to see shine Salah in the position Mané operated in last season without the Senegalese star in the side to illustrate how Jürgen Klopp can count on many different combinations in midfield and attack when players are injured, suspended, out of form, or in need of a rest.

Adding Naby Keïta to Liverpool's ranks would greatly increase the options Klopp can call upon, but for Milner, the main focus was the sheer ability present in the front three. There were a few delightful moments between them with excellent support from midfield. Despite the facing opponents that will experience life in League One after relegation from the Championship last season, some of Liverpool's attacks during Salah's first half cameo possessed some of the zest inspired by the arrival of Mané last season.

“They are all top players and it’s easier when you are as good as they are,” Milner pointed out. “They are all lively with great imagination, movement and great touches and they can all see a pass and are all unselfish as well, so you need that and that’s a big part of our game obviously unselfish team play. With and without the ball those three players can do that.”

Remember how pedestrian Liverpool's attack could be without Sadio Mané? It appears that Liverpool have found an appropriate remedy for such ills in the astoundingly rapid and Mohamed Salah.