Jurgen Klopp insists Mohamed Salah is still playing a starring role in Liverpool's title challenge as he dismissed concerns about his side's lack of goals from midfield.

The Egypt winger goes into Friday night's clash at Southampton looking to end the longest drought of his Anfield career having gone eight appearances without finding the net.

Salah hasn't added to his 20-goal haul in all competitions since February 9 but Klopp remains delighted with his overall contribution.

“If you talk about the team and it hasn't scored for two or three games, you say okay.... but as long as we create the chances everything is fine,” Klopp said.

“The moment we don't create chances that's when we have the problem. That's the 100% truth. It's not the answer people want to hear but it is the truth. Mo feels the same. As long as he's involved and as long as there's chances there's no doubt.

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“He's always there with the speed and this gives us so much space in different moments to play, he's always a threat in behind.

“It's very good for us of course if he scores now. How many goals have we scored? Quite a few. All is okay. Let's try again and again, individually and as a team.

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“I don't like it when a player goes to a game and thinks 'I have to score'. I prefer 'I want to score'.

“We have different situations in the season and setting up goals is just as important. It might not be as exciting in the stats or whatever but Mo has scored 17 goals and seven assists (in the Premier League). That's impressive, actually - a good number, let's carry on.”

Liverpool have struggled for goals from midfield this season. The trio of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Gini Wijnaldum, who started last weekend's win over Tottenham, have netted just six league goals between them.

But Klopp insists the only statistic that truly matters is the Reds' 79-point total – the club's highest ever tally after 32 matches of a top-flight campaign.

“I hear we don't score enough from the midfield position, this kind of stuff,” Klopp added.

“Everybody asks for perfection but we have to use our set-up to our advantage and use the full backs. That is normal.

“The midfielders have slightly different jobs to do and the strikers as well. This is clear. The general outcome is important and we have 79 points.”

Salah's record-breaking exploits of 2017/18 when he plundered 44 goals means that he's received much closer attention from opponents this time around.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Klopp believes that has created more space for fellow frontmen Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to wreak havoc. Mane is level with Salah on 20 goals in all competitions, while Firmino boasts 14.

“Yeah, 100%,” Klopp said.

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“This year we don’t rely on Mo’s goals, but he’s still in a very good position in comparison to all the other players.

“His career is not over. He scored 20 goals this year, so he's scored 60 in the last two. Wow! That’s not too bad.

Jurgen Klopp on Mohamed Salah adapting and dealing with a different season

“He’s a threat, he helps us a lot and he deals with new situations really well. He doesn’t seem to be bothered that he hasn’t scored in a few games, and I’m not. As long as we work together and do the right things, he will be fine.

“The answer for problems in football is always work rate. Do it again and again, as much as you can, as fast as you can, and the ball will one day bounce in your direction.”