Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City are wary of the threat posed by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the Community Shield tomorrow.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference via mancity.com, Guardiola said he’s a big fan of the Liverpool superstar.
“I’m not saying something new because all of us in this room know him,” said the City manager. “He’s an exceptional player, an incredible threat, a top goalscorer and we know that he’s quality.”
Salah has a decent record against City but crucially drew a blank in last season’s title decider at the Etihad. The 30-year-old will be hoping to put that right in tomorrow’s game at the King Power Stadium.
Salah the man for the biggest occasions
Even with all of Liverpool’s attacking talent, Salah is still the man to watch for opposition managers.
Guardiola tends to be above the headaches that plague most managers. But even he has suffered at Salah’s hands down the years.
Liverpool’s number 11 now has four goals in his last six games against City. When the biggest games roll around, he tends to stand up to be counted.
With City having now sold Oleksandr Zinchenko and with Aymeric Laporte injured, it will be interesting to see who starts at left-back for them tomorrow.
Salah will be eyeing the teamsheet with interest. Whoever starts there is unlikely to be an out-and-out natural in the position and Salah could be licking his lips.
One consolation for Guardiola will be that he no longer has to deal with Sadio Mane terrorising the other flank.
The Spaniard has previously praised the partnership that Salah and Mane had going on. It’s no wonder either, given that the now Bayern man also scored four in his last six against City for Liverpool.
The Reds won’t be able to count on Mane’s goals tomorrow, or against City in the future. If Salah’s in the mood though, it might not matter.
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