Van Dijk Knows How To Stop Salah - But He’s Not Telling

In the lead up to Liverpool’s big Champions League quarter-final first leg match against Manchester City on Wednesday, all eyes are on Mohamed Salah, who can’t seem to stop scoring. With 29 goals in the Premier League and 37 in all competitions, he seems like a man on a mission. If he can get firing on Wednesday at Anfield, it will be great news for the Reds, who are looking to book a trip into the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since the 2007-2008 season.

New defender Virgil van Dijk, who has been training alongside Salah for months, says that he has figured out the secret to stopping the magnificent Egyptian -- but he won’t tell.

“You need to be on your best,” said van Dijk. “Mo’s that kind of player that you just need to be on your best. There are ways to stop him, but I’m not going to tell you because I don’t want our opponents to think about it! When he is 100% and in the zone then he can beat anyone.

“Is he a goal machine in training? Well, he tries! But as a defender, we need to step up our game obviously and makes sure we are aware. It makes us better. That’s what we want, that’s what it’s going to be like at a top club. Mo is a great guy and works hard, just like the rest of the guys.”

Yeah, buddy, maybe keep your mouth shut about that one, eh? With a minimum of eight and maximum of 11 games left to play in the season, Salah has a real chance to break some (more) records in his debut season with the club. And if the fates are on our side, hopefully he’ll keep that hot streak going on Wednesday, when Liverpool will surely need him in top form to overtake red-hot Manchester City.