Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah not 'biologically' comparable with other players over 30

Mohamed Salah is 'still a young player', despite being the wrong side of 30, according to Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool's number 11 scored again in the Reds' 5-1 rout of Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday night.

The goal was Salah's 13th goal contribution in 12 games in 2023/24, with the Egyptian in as fine form as ever, despite turning 31 this summer.

Speaking to the press ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Klopp hailed Salah's incredible dedication to fitness – even joking the player has the bones of a 19-year-old.

Klopp said: "Mo doesn’t behave like [he is 30] at all. Off the pitch he behaves, he is a grown man, beyond that he is still a young player. He is top fit I think if we were to scan him the majority of the bones are aged 19 or 20! He just keeps himself in such good shape.

"It is to do with game understanding. That is what we try to give young players. They all know an awful lot about football when they finish their careers at the age of 35, but the earlier in their career you get this information the more useful they are.

"Obviously with Mo it is clear he understands the spaces much better, he knows how players react around him and then if he cannot score, he can still be a threat for us. That is really super important."

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Salah has back-to-back doubles in the Premier League, netting twice in the second half of last weekend's Merseyside derby despite a relatively subdued performances by his own high standards.

Klopp added: "The Everton game will not go down in history performance wise but then scoring two goals was massive, in other games, he has played much better and not scored but being constantly a threat is as important for us because that really opens up spaces for all the other boys. I cannot compare Mo to other 30-year-olds because I don't think biologically he is [the same]."

Salah's current Liverpool contract is due to expire in the summer of 2025, shortly before he will turn 33.

There has been much speculation about whether he will extend his deal at Anfield again – he is already the club's highest-paid player ever – or be allowed to leave next summer, amid interest from the Saudi Pro League.