Jurgen Klopp says there's no danger of Mohamed Salah losing confidence as he insisted: “He knows I'm more than happy with him.”

The Liverpool winger has gone three games without a goal – equalling the most barren run of his Anfield career ahead of Saturday's visit of Southampton.

Salah, who plundered 44 goals last term, hasn't been at his blistering best since recovering from the shoulder injury which wrecked his Champions League final dream back in May.

However, Klopp hasn't felt the need to have a heart-to-heart with the prolific Egypt international.

“Oh it’s much too early to be thinking about something like that,” Klopp said. “Last year he scored three in six (games at the start of the season), this year two in six.

“Yes, there were a few chances where he could have scored. The Tottenham situation, he sprinted on to a bad pass. The dry pitch made the ball not roll like he was expecting.

“Then he's too close to the ball. That's why he shot like he did. If he's a little bit further on, he shoots in the bottom corner and it’s a goal.

Show Player

(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

“Last year he missed chances. It’s much too early to make something of it and talk to him constantly about what and when and stuff like that.

“So long as he is working as he is in this moment, everything will be fine.

“Will it be 40 (goals) at the end of the season? Nobody knows. People talk about Harry Kane, about this or that. We have to talk about something constantly.

“But we don’t have to. And that’s why we don’t do it. We train, we prepare and if I see him and all the guys in a good shape, then we will make a line up and we will try to win the game.”

Salah was taken off in the closing stages of the 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League after his error led to Kylian Mbappe's equaliser.

However, Klopp insists Salah's value to Liverpool extends way beyond his goalscoring feats.

The Reds boss was delighted with the shift Salah put in on Tuesday night. The front three of Salah, Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane set the tone with their efforts off the ball.

“In that department (defensively), it was one of Mo's best. 100%,” Klopp said.

(Image: James Maloney)

“With Daniel, you're probably surprised a bit but he adapted in pre-season to the position. It was very important that he played that position in a very similar way defensively to Bobby (Firmino) when he plays.

“These three forward players have to defend together. Not to defend but to cut off passing options. Then it is easier for the rest. Without the wingers in the running mode, we have no chance. At Tottenham it was the same.

“People say you are a world class player but you still have to defend like in the first game of your career. You need to be brave for that.

“I tell the full-backs to do it and if they make a mistake, that is my fault. If I tell them to do something and they don’t do it, then it is their fault.

“I think people see (the work-rate) with Mo but then say 'ah, he didn’t score' and stuff like that. He knows that I am more than happy with him in this moment.

Show more

“There is no doubt about that. You have to see it and write it and make people read it.

“Bobby took a while before he got the credit for his work rate. I don’t want to make defenders out of them but they have to be in the right position in the right moments."