Ian Rush on Mo Salah: 'Inside the box he reminds me of Messi'

Ian Rush was in the Aviva Stadium yesterday morning to officially announce a pre- season summer friendly between Liverpool and Napoli which will take place at the Dublin 4 venue on Saturday, August 4^th.

The morning after Mo Salah picked up the PFA Player of the Year award, the former Kop favourite and Liverpool legend had high praise for the performances the striker has put in this season.

Rush said he believes the Egyptian striker is capable of surpassing his own record of 47 goals in all competitions for the Reds.

Salah is currently six shy of this record with a personal tally of 41 for the season and has a maximum of six games to play depending on how the two legs against Italian opponents Roma fares out.

Jurgen Klopp's side play their first leg at Anfield tonight in a competition in which Salah is joint second-highest scorer with eight goals.

“I genuinely think at the end of the day that he can do it,” Rush said.

“There are six games to play and he has been absolutely incredible this season, he has been a joy to watch and deserved his Player of the Year accolade last night.

“For your own peers to vote on that achievement and that award is something in itself.

“You get the football writers and a few others but for your own colleagues and peers to do that it’s something special.

“When I went out and scored 47 goals in a season, I went out knowing I was going to score and I can see exactly the same in Mo now. He must be going onto that pitch knowing he is going to score.

“Torres and Suarez were absolutely fantastic in their first seasons at the club but I can probably say that Salah is having a better season than them two and that takes some doing to do that.

“Inside the box he reminds me of Messi in how he is with his technique, and he has taken the English Premier League by storm.”

The Welshman is looking forward to making his way back to the Aviva for their pre-season fixture against Napoli, and he feels these games are very important for the players and fans alike.

“These games are very important in trying to get match fitness for next season.

“You have a World Cup which will have gone by and it’s for players to get themselves match-fit for the start of the season.

“Coming to Ireland is always great – there’s always great support there – so it’s trying to give something back to the loyal supporters that are here in Ireland.”

Liverpool were regular visitors to Irish shores during Rush’s two spells over 16 years at the Anfield club, both for pre-season friendlies against League of Ireland sides and in European competition.

“We came over a few times. Obviously it wasn’t a stadium like this [the Aviva], was it? We played a few. Home Farm and different ones.

“We always used to play a pre-season in Ireland and it was a great support then, and it’s the same now. It’s just got bigger. That’s what it’s all about.

“At Liverpool, we see ourselves as a family club and everybody doesn’t get the chance to go over to Liverpool.

“What we’ve got to try and do is get first team players to come over here and entertain the supporters in Ireland as it’s exactly what they deserve.”

Tickets for this game go on sale on Friday, April 27 at 11:00 via Ticketmaster.ie with prices ranging from €10 for Kids through to €125 for a family package.