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Should Liverpool be the favorites to win the Champions League? (2:05)
Stevie Nicol, Frank Leboeuf and Craig Burley recap Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Lille and discuss if The Reds have the fewest weaknesses. (2:05)
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has said he is “very, very proud” of becoming the first player in the club’s history to score 50 goals in European competition following his strike in the 2-1 win over Lille.
Salah opened the scoring at Anfield on Tuesday night as Arne Slot’s side guaranteed automatic qualification for the Champions League Round of 16.
Substitute Harvey Elliott made sure of the victory for Liverpool in the second half after Jonathan David had restored parity for Lille, who were reduced to 10 men after Aïssa Mandi was dismissed for a second yellow card offence.
“Of course it is something I’m very proud of and it comes with a win so that’s great,” Salah told TNT Sports after the game.
“It’s something incredible. To be the first player to achieve that makes me proud. Very, very proud. I’ve worked so hard for that so I’m glad to achieve it.”
Mohamed Salah has been in inspired form for Liverpool this season. Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images
Salah has scored 45 goals for Liverpool in the Champions League (including one in the qualifying rounds) and five in the Europa League. In total, he has scored 61 career goals in European competition across spells at FC Basel (7), Chelsea, Fiorentina (1), Roma (3) and on Merseyside.
Liverpool have now won all seven of their games in the Champions League this season and are also six points clear the top of the Premier League table .
Their form is such that Brentford boss Thomas Frank described Slot’s side as the “best team in the world” following their 2-0 win at the Gtech Community Stadium at the weekend, but Salah believes they still have work to do to earn that tag.
“I wouldn’t say the best, I would say one of the best,” he said.
“The way we play, the way we help each other. We have a very good gameplan but so far this is nothing because we are still in January so we need to carry on like this and we’ll see at the end of the season.”
After Salah’s latest moment of brilliance this season, Slot piled more praise on his striker.
“Special, I think is the word that describes Mo’s performance at this club the best – or maybe there are even better words to use, but he’s been outstanding for this club for so many years,” Slot said.
Information from ESPN’s Global Sports Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report