LIVERPOOL -- Jurgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah is more than capable of winning this season's PFA Player of the Year Award, despite facing fierce competition from Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne.
Salah scored his 32nd goal of the season in all competitions on Saturday when he netted the opening goal in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Newcastle United.
Although De Bruyne and Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane continue to have excellent seasons, Klopp feels Salah's debut campaign at Anfield is worthy of individual honours.
"I really love this player," the Liverpool manager said of the Egyptian at his postgame news conference. "He's doing so well and thank God he's still healthy and fit. He deserves all the good critics he got so far and we have to make sure he can carry on.
"It's a different position, but it depends on what you want to have. There's no doubt that Kevin De Bruyne plays a nice season, to be honest. And there's no doubt that Mo Salah plays a really good one as well. That's how it is.
"There are a few good players. I think a few people would mention that Harry Kane is not too bad, Roberto Firmino is not too bad, David Silva.
"If he can win this competition then he really deserves it. There are a few games to go and we have to make sure that he can keep on going in this shape and be in important spaces and decisive areas and score goals for us."
Anthony Devlin/PA Images via Getty Images
Liverpool's win over Rafael Benitez's Newcastle moved them up to second in the Premier League -- with Manchester United playing Crystal Palace on Monday night -- thanks to goals from Salah and Sadio Mane.
With Liverpool 1-0 up and close to half-time, goalkeeper Loris Karius was at full stretch to deny Mohamed Diame from long range.
Klopp says Karius' save was a crucial moment of the game and believes the German is now proving his worth, having permanently taken over starting duties from Simon Mignolet.
"Very, very [important]," Klopp said of the save. "I wouldn't say we have no chance to win the game afterwards, but if the ball is in then it changes the game, for sure.
"Newcastle would have said perfect moment. For us, it would have been the exact opposite. That's exactly the life of a top goalkeeper at a top team. You may not have a lot to do, but if you have something to do then you need to be there. He was there.
"It's a good thing. It was like scoring, to be honest. If he's not a good goalkeeper then I would be the biggest idiot in world football if I line him up -- maybe a few people think I am! He's an outstandingly skilled goalkeeper."
Source: espn.co.uk