Mohamed Salah is one of the best in the world, says Roy Hodgson ahead of Liverpool’s visit to Crystal Palace

Salah is top of the league’s scoring charts with 28 goals – one every 85 minutes – in a sensational debut season, and Hodgson has identified the Egyptian as Liverpool’s leading threat

Mohamed Salah in Liverpool training this week (Getty Images)

Roy Hodgson believes Mohamed Salah is in the “top bracket” of world footballers ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League visit to Selhurst Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Salah is top of the league’s scoring charts with 28 goals – one every 85 minutes – in a sensational debut season, and the Crystal Palace manager has identified the Egyptian as Liverpool’s leading threat for his players to nullify.

“He’s certainly showing that this season,” Hodgson said. “I’ve never worked with him so can only talk from having watched him. He must be delighted to be performing in that top bracket of players.

“The only way you can prevent quality players is through the collective work of the team.”

Hodgson has overseen an impressive turnaround at Palace which has lifted the club out of the bottom three, and with seven games remaining he has called on the club’s exceptional support to carry them to safety.

“A lot of clubs have good fans, we aren’t the only ones. But there’s a difference between a fan and a supporter. We have supporters who back us in the good times and the bad, not just when things are going well. We’re very fortunate that we don’t suffer from that.”

There are no fresh injuries following the international break, with Jeffrey Schlupp, James Tomkins and Alexander Sorloth still doubts, and Wilfried Zaha expected to be available.

“Zaha hasn’t been training to any great extent as we’re nursing his knee,” explained Hodgson. “We hope the knee will be ok, but we’ve had to be cautious after he played against Huddersfield Town, as he came back much earlier than expected from injury.”

Hodgson praised Palace’s passionate support (Getty) (GETTY IMAGES)

Hodgson also threw his weight behind the club’s redevelopment plans for the Main Stand, with a planning application set to go before Croydon Council in the coming weeks.

“Selhurst Park has been here a long time, and whilst improvements have been made over the years it’s fair to say they have been piecemeal improvements within the club’s means. I was with the Chairman Steve Parish when he presented the new, comprehensive plans back in December 2017 and it would be wonderful if these plans for such an impressive stadium can become a reality.”