'He should have given me an assist' - Virgil van Dijk jokes about 'world class' Mo Salah vs Brentford

You would have forgiven Mohamed Salah for a little rustiness after being thrust back into the Liverpool first team against Brentford, but the Egyptian was typically devastating in west London last Saturday. 

After coming on for the injured Diogo Jota just before half-time at the Gtech Community Stadium - his first appearance in a Liverpool shirt since New Year's Day - it took Mohamed Salah all of ten second half minutes to register a goal contribution on his Premier League return.

The 31-year-old set Alexis Mac Allister up with an incisive pass inside the penalty area to double Liverpool's lead against the Bees, with Salah netting himself after a Brentford error in the 68th minute.

Salah, who now has 29 goal contributions in 28 Reds appearances this term, was instantly back to his devastating best, with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk relieved to see the winger back in action - even though he felt the Egyptian should have set him up for a goal.

"He should have scored (another) and given me an assist, also - he knows it!" Van Dijk joked after the game.

"But listen, he is a world-class player and at a club like Liverpool, we need world-class players."

Salah did uncharacteristically miscue one chance after running through on goal against Brentford, but it was an otherwise flawless display from the winger.

However, the Reds may need to brace themselves for Salah's absence again this Wednesday, with suggestions that he may miss out on Luton Town's trip to Anfield due to a 'renewed' injury.

Liverpool desperately need Salah's consistent stream of goals if they're going to win the Premier League this season, especially given Diogo Jota in now facing around two months out according to one report.

Curtis Jones also picked up an ankle injury at the Gtech Community Stadium, while the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago, Alisson and Joel Matip are all currently sidelined.

When asked whether Liverpool's achievements this season were even more impressive given recent injuries, Van Dijk replied: "That is something for the outside world to judge.

"We cannot deny that we have had so many injuries and we have lost big players so we have to adapt but it is also a big credit to the players who have stepped up and taken their chances.

"We need everyone in this whole fight. We are still competing on all fronts and let’s keep this going until the very last moment so we can be successful.

"We cannot take our eye off the ball. We have the quality to punish opponents and we showed that against Brentford."