Mohamed Salah’s scoring exploits are underestimated by those outside of Liverpool, according to his Reds teammate Virgil van Dijk.
Salah scored his 183rd goal for Liverpool in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday after Neko Williams and Morgan Gibbs-White landed shots that canceled out Diogo Jota’s brace.
Thanks to the Egyptian’s close-range finish, he equaled Robbie Fowler’s goal for Liverpool 71 games short, moving him up to sixth in the club’s all-time goalscoring rankings.
Salah scored 27 goals in all competitions during a disappointing season for Liverpool and now has Steven Gerrard’s 186 goals for the Reds in his sights.
Asked about Salah’s goals since Saturday’s win, Van Dijk suggested that the striker is underestimated by non-Reds.
“Most of the players here have contributed to winning big trophies. Mo will definitely be considered a legend. He is such an important player,” Van Dijk told reporters.
“At a later stage, I think what he did will be appreciated by the outside world much more.
“For us, we appreciate everything he does day in and day out. We see all the hard work he does. He just has to keep going like this.”
Moving our all-time scorer list to sixth place.
Brilliant, @MoSalah pic.twitter.com/VlR6ZQCfDM
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 22, 2023
In addition, after scoring a goal in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal and then scoring a brace in a 6-1 thrashing of Leeds United, Salah scored in three consecutive Premier League games (in seven series) for the first time since October 2021. .
Meanwhile, only Ollie Watkins (14) and Erling Haaland (13) have improved his performance with 12 Premier League goals since the start of the year.
Liverpool are still nine points behind the top four despite back-to-back wins and Van Dijk says the team’s under-par campaign has been a revelation.
“We are very privileged. We go there, perform in one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he said. “This season, every once in a while you need to remind yourself that we are truly blessed.
“Everyone wants to win, no one wants to make mistakes and lose. We have been very successful over the years.
“We just need to find that joy. I am definitely happy and excited to be there trying to get good results to organize the run.”
goals in his last @Premier League games for @MoSalah. pic.twitter.com/mrJnySy7HO
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 22, 2023