Simon Mignolet knew Liverpool goal-machine Mohamed Salah would come good after tip-off from Belgium team-mate Radja Nainggolan: 'He told me he's a brilliant player'

  • Mohamed Salah scored his 20th goal of the season against Bournemouth
  • Jurgen Klopp's side were 4-0 winners at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday
  • Salah is the first Red to reach the tally before Christmas since Ian Rush in 1986
  • Simon Mignolet was made aware of Salah's talents by Radja Nainggolan
  • The goalkeeper revealed Nainggolan told him Salah 'is a brilliant player'

Simon Mignolet has revealed he knew just how good Mohamed Salah would be at Liverpool, after getting a tip-off from Radja Nainggolan.

Salah hit his 20th goal since his £39million summer move from Roma as Liverpool trounced Bournemouth 4-0 on Sunday.

And while the Egyptian's rise to Premier League stardom has surprised some after his previous doomed spell at Chelsea, Mignolet already had some idea of how good his new team-mate was.

Mohamed Salah was always going to thrive on his Premier League return, says Simon Mignolet

Mohamed Salah was always going to thrive on his Premier League return, says Simon Mignolet

The Liverpool goalkeeper is an international team-mate of Nainggolan with Belgium, and the Roma midfielder gave him an early insight on Salah's talent.


'I know Radja Nainggolan really well and he told me he's a brilliant player,' Mignolet said. 'I wasn't expecting him to score so many goals, especially as a winger, but he's doing well, working hard and let's hope he can keep doing what he's doing.

Mignolet revealed he knew Salah would come good for Liverpool after discussions with Belgium team-mate Radja Nainggolan, who insisted Salah 'is a brilliant player'

Mignolet revealed he knew Salah would come good for Liverpool after discussions with Belgium team-mate Radja Nainggolan, who insisted Salah 'is a brilliant player'

'He knows what the Premier League is all about from his time here before and he's obviously learned and progressed in his time in Italy.

'So he's come back here knowing what to expect and he's so strong, he's got quick feet but he's strong too. You can't run over him and he suits the English style of play.'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp chose to brush over Salah's 20-goal achievement, the first time a Reds player has hit that mark before Christmas since Ian Rush in 1986.

Salah scored his 20th goal of the season in Liverpool's 4-0 win at Bournemouth on Sunday

Salah scored his 20th goal of the season in Liverpool's 4-0 win at Bournemouth on Sunday

But he did fail the 'complete package' his side shows as goals from Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Lovren, Coutinho and Roberto Firmino put Bournemouth to the sword.

'It's a really tough place to come,' the Liverpool boss said. 'If you're not as concentrated or focused as we were, it's impossible to get something here.

'We were really spot on — very good organisation, defending, approach, ideas... we worked hard. We controlled the game... Bournemouth had maybe one chance, we had a lot more (chances).

'So I'm really happy with the full package we showed today. We're really satisfied.'

The Egyptian became the first Red to reach Christmas with 20 goals since Ian Rush in 1986

The Egyptian became the first Red to reach Christmas with 20 goals since Ian Rush in 1986