Ian Rush Reacts to Mohamed Salah’s Record-Setting 200th Liverpool Goal

Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Liverpool’s all-time top goal scorer talked about what makes Salah special after the Egyptian superstar recorded his 200th.

With his goal on Saturday in Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace, Mohamed Salah got his milestone 200th as a Red. He is the club’s fifth-top scorer all time. The club’s top scorer born outside the United Kingdom.

Ahead of him on that all-time list now for the Reds are just Billy Liddell, Gordon Hodgson, Roger Hunt, and Liverpool’s all time top goal scorer Ian Rush.

“It’s a huge achievement in itself to get to 200 goals,” was Rush’s reaction to the milestone. “As a player he can hardly do any more. I watch him now, and his overall game is a million times better than when he first came.

“When he came, he was scoring goals for fun. Now he’s scoring goals for fun and making them for fun! His assists are just as important as his goals now, which shows how much of an all-round player he has become.”

Along with his 200 goals, Salah also has 87 assists as a Red, with a goal involvement every 93 minutes he’s been on the pitch since signing from Roma in summer of 2017.

Those numbers, and his leading role in Liverpool winning the Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, League Cup, FA Cup, Club World Cup, Champions League, and Premier League, ensure that Salah will go down as an all-time club legend.

While Ian Rush’s record of 346 goals seems out of reach, Salah’s 200 have been earned at a faster rate in 327 appearances to Rush’s 660. The only player in the top ten all time list with a better goal return per appearance is Gordon Hodgson with 241 goals in 377 games.

“His mentality is incredible,” Rush added. “Mental toughness is the most important thing for a forward, I think. We talk about the game, and what stands out is that desire for constant improvement.

“He’s improving all the time. His all-round play now is great, but that comes from his mentality. He analyses his bad games as much as his good ones, and finds ways to correct his mistakes and come back stronger. That’s what makes him a special player.”