Klopp asked Salah to do something that he has never asked a player to do before

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made a request of Mohamed Salah that he has never made of any other player during a match on Thursday.

The Egypt international scored in the 6-1 Europa League demolition of Sparta Prague to bring up his 20th goal of the season, becoming the first player in the club's history to reach that mark in seven successive campaigns.

He completed his first 90 minutes in two months but Klopp admitted that he wanted to take him off earlier and asked him to do something unique.

'It was not the plan he plays 90 minutes, the plan was to take him off when we brought on Mateusz (Musialowski) but Bobby Clark said (he felt something) and Mo is experienced enough that he recovers during the game.

'I told him not to defend any more - I never told a player that before.'

Klopp added: 'In seven years together with him, the one problem we never had was consistency,' said Klopp after the Egypt international's first start since New Year's Day after a hamstring injury.

'Mo is just delivering and delivering and delivering, his desire doesn't stop, his quality is there and his desire to score doesn't stop.

'He has improved in so many aspects since he started here. That's how it is, he will not stop.

'I'm less surprised than maybe some others, I thought it had already happened to be honest but he was injured for a while, otherwise he would have done it in January or February.

'But great, very good, and great to have him back.'