Liverpool midfielder James Milner has backed Mohamed Salah to enjoy another fruitful season during the upcoming campaign.
Salah surpassed all expectations with his debut season at Anfield last term, scoring 44 goals in all competitions including a record 32 in the Premier League en route to being named the PFA and FWA player of the season.
The Egyptian winger made his first appearance of pre-season in an International Champions Cup match against Manchester City on Thursday morning and scored within 52 seconds of his introduction off the bench, and Milner believes that he will once again be a constant goal threat in 2018-19.
"The best players in the world aren't known because they just did it in one season, they do it over and over again. He is more than capable of doing that. There is pressure when you have had one good year to deliver again but he is a top player. He's shown that. He's going to keep on going," Milner told reporters.
"We need to keep improving as a side with him as well and make sure that all the pressure is not on his shoulders to deliver goals and get us out of tough situations. It's down to all of us to help him be the best player he can and do that as part of a team."
Milner also insisted that he was never concerned about the prospect of losing Salah, whose form during the 2017-18 campaign led to speculation of a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona.
"I was never worried, personally. There's always going to be stories when players do well. You saw how well he played last season, improving, and he seems happy so I don't see any reason why he'd want to go," Milner added.
"When there's speculation about your players it means that they are playing well and performing. You've seen what him and Sadio [Mane] have brought when they've come on."
Salah signed a new five-year contract with no release clause earlier this summer.
Barney Corkhill
