Roberto Firmino backed Mohamed Salah to score a hat-trick against Rangers after the Egyptian's first goal on Wednesday evening.
Salah hit a six-minute hat-trick at Ibrox to help Liverpool complete an emphatic 7-1 win in the Champions League. Jurgen Klopp's side need just a point from their final two group games against Napoli and Ajax to progress to the knockout stages of the tournament.
The 30-year-old forward was surprisingly dropped by Klopp for the game but was introduced in the 68th minute with Liverpool boasting a 3-1 advantage. He then smashed in three rapid goals to join Darwin Nunez, and Firmino (two) on the scoresheet, before Harvey Elliott completed the rout.
Salah now holds the record for the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history, beating Bafetimbi Gomis' seven-minute trio for Lyon against Dinamo Zagreb in December 2011. Firmino was unsurprisingly asked about Salah's achievement after the match.
"Amazing," Firmino told UEFA in his post-match interview. "When he scored the first goal, I told Darwin [Nunez] on the bench he will score a hat-trick, 100 per cent. I could feel it on the bench, and that’s exactly what he did, and I’m so happy for him."
When asked about Salah's hat-trick after the game, Klopp said: "Special. Typical Mo." The German must now decide whether to start him against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday. Liverpool are 13 points behind Pep Guardiola's side in the Premier League.
What did you make of Mohamed Salah's hat-trick against Rangers? Let us know in the comments below!
Salah's numbers this season are impressive, as he's scored eight goals and provided four assists in 13 games. Yet he's found the net just twice in the Premier League and more is expected of him after he scored 31 goals and provided 16 assists for the Reds last term.
Salah has been Liverpool's talisman since he arrived from Roma in June 2017, scoring 164 goals for the Merseyside club. He's helped them win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, European Super Cup, Club World Cup and Community Shield.
Despite Salah's heroics on Wednesday evening, Firmino was named as the Player of the Match for scoring a brace and setting up Nunez's goal with a cheeky assist. The 31-year-old is enjoying a good season, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in 12 games.
On his form, Firmino - who is out of contract next June - added: "I’m very happy, like I said before. I always try my best to score goals and to help the team with the win. I play for the team first. Good things will come 100 per cent, I believe this."
Firmino was praised by talkSPORT presenter Ally McCoist for his performance on Wednesday evening. "I think he's one of the most intelligent footballers I've seen in a long, long time," claimed McCoist - who was in attendance at Ibrox - on Thursday morning.
"His game awareness and game intelligence is absolutely second to none. Great footballer. Quick feet, good in the air. But intelligent, sees it, knows where to go, drops into pockets. I think he's a very, very clever player."
