Christian Pulisic admits there’s a lot he can learn from the ‘incredible’ Mo Salah ahead of Sunday’s EFL Cup final between Premier League giants Chelsea and Liverpool, speaking to ESPN.
As Thomas Tuchel’s charges swatted aside Lille in midweek, taking a 2-0 lead into their Champions League round-of-16 tie next month, Chelsea’s USA international scored just his fourth goal of the season.
Pulisic’s end product – or a lack thereof – has become a cause for real concern at Stamford Bridge this season. The same, of course, cannot be said about Salah at Anfield.
With a staggering 27 strikes in just 31 games, there’s still a chance that the Egyptian superstar could exceed his career-best tally of 44 from his debut season on Merseyside.
“He is an incredible player,” Pulisic admits. “As far as the Premier League goes this season, he has generally been up there with the best.
“There’s definitely a lot to look up to and I can learn from him. He’s a great goal-scorer, really strong, he does a lot of things well that people don’t even realise to get him into position to score these goals.
“He’s someone I can learn from.”
Who will triumph in Sunday’s EFL Cup final?
Salah is not the only player Tuchel, Pulisic and co will need to keep an eye on at Wembley.
Sadio Mane has returned from the African Cup of Nations with a winner’s medal around his neck and his self-confidence soaring. And it’s a testament to the remarkable strength in depth at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal that neither Mane, nor Luis Diaz or Diogo Jota are guaranteed starters this weekend.
That’s without mentioning Roberto Firmino too.
“The players Liverpool have and the style they play, they make things very difficult for you,” adds Pulisic, who has been linked with a move to Anfield on numerous occasions over the years.
“They are a high-pressure team, they have a lot of physical, fast players, dangerous up front. They have a lot of good players and a good coach.
“We’ve played in finals before. We’ve won and lost them. But it’s about getting in the mindset and being ready to fight because in a final, that’s what they’re for. It’s up for grabs, maybe not always the best football-playing team is going to win.
“It is about grinding, fighting and winning that one-off game. That’s what we are going to do; hopefully we are going to get it done this time.”
Who is 2022’s Kezman?
Matija Kezman was the unlikely hero as Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea defeated Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool in 2005’s EFL Cup final.
This year, could another out of sorts frontman write his name into the history books?
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