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Danny Ings has revealed a bet with Mo Salah has inspired his impressive start to the campaign.

The Southampton striker doubts he will win the wager which was struck with Salah when he departed Liverpool on loan.

Salah bet Ings he would finish the season with more goals which, given he won the golden boot last term, looks a well-informed wager.

But Ings, 26, notched his second in four games with the opener against Crystal Palace.

That helped the visitors to their first league win of the season, with Pierre-Emile ­Hojbjerg adding a second in stoppage time.

And Ings is ahead of Salah because although the ­Egyptian has also scored twice, he is not counting his opening-day strike, as Ings’s deadline day move meant he did not start for ­Southampton that day.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

“He’s not going to have to buy me a car or anything if I win – although he can if he wants,” said Ings.

“He proposed the bet on messages when I left.

“Hopefully we’ll both score plenty of goals. It would be ­incredible to beat him, wouldn’t it? I’m just working every day to ­improve.

“I’ve missed a lot of ­football. But, of course, it’s not a cash bet. I wouldn’t be stupid enough to put any cash on it. It’s just a bit of banter.

“People would think I’m mad to take on that bet if there was cash ­involved.

“I don’t have a goals target. I don’t want to limit ­myself on what I can achieve. As long as we’re ­winning I’m happy.”

(Image: REUTERS)

Two major knee ­injuries and the form of the likes of Salah, Sadio Mane and ­Roberto Firmino made ­opportunities, and goals, scarce for Ings at ­Anfield.

His former Reds team-mate Christian Benteke, who has not scored since April and missed a host of chances here, is another striker searching for goals.

But Ings said: “He will come through that. There aren’t many ­defenders who can beat him in the air. He’s such a dangerous striker even when he’s not scoring.”

Eagles boss Roy Hodgson knows he needs more from Benteke – and hinted the Belgian could soon face the axe.

He said: “At the moment, we still consider him our best option. Of course, the ­moment may well come when we think, ‘Better do something about this’, and as we get ­players back fit like Wilf Zaha, the ­options become greater.”