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Liverpool's Klopp backs Mohamed Salah despite previous Prem struggles

Jurgen Klopp has played down new-signing Mohamed Salah's previous struggles in the Premier League, saying other great players have found life difficult at Chelsea at first blush.

Salah, 25, began his Prem career with the Blues, where he joined from FC Basel for €16.5 million in January of 2014.

After failing to claim a regular place at Stamford Bridge, he was loaned to Fiorentina the following winter, then spent two impressive seasons at Roma before Klopp and the Reds made him their club-record signing this summer.

Speaking to reporters in Hong Kong on Monday, Klopp said he'd followed Salah's career since his Basel days, where he showed great promise.

"A lot of players have shown it is quite easy to struggle at Chelsea. [Kevin] De Bruyne is one," Klopp said.

"The only thing that we really ignored was what he did at Chelsea. When he was at Basel we [Dortmund] played them and we didn't know him. It was 'what the f---?' It was unbelievable. The moment I said 'let's go for him' he was already at Chelsea.

"Then he struggled at Chelsea because it was too early. Then he went to Fiorentina and then Roma.

"The question is 'what did you not see in him?' because he played all inclusive football. He was quick, he played a lot of games, he created goals and chances and he scored by himself."

The ultra-quick Salah will team with Sadio Mane on the wing to give Liverpool devastating speed down the flanks. 

Klopp cautioned the Egypt international's game is about more than pace.

"He was involved in pretty much everything for Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations," said Klopp.

"He had the free kick also. He is a left footed player and we don't have too many of them in the team. It all makes him really valuable for us.

"I'm happy for the moment but he needs to learn a lot. We have to start working on the physical part and the technical part."

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