Strootman wary of Salah return

The Egyptian will face his former club in the Champions League semi-final this week, having recently been crowned the PFA Players' Player of the Year.

Salah has scored 41 goals for Liverpool in all competitions since his summer move from the Italian side, a figure that has surprised the Dutch playmaker given his former team-mate's profligacy in front of goal during his time in Rome.

“I’m not surprised at how well he’s doing but just at how easy he scores the goals and how confident he is in front of goal with the ball,” he told 'The Independent'.

“Here he did a great job and did a lot of great assists and goals but he missed a lot of chances especially one-on-one with the goalkeeper. I am surprised by how many goals he has scored so far but not how he plays. Here he was a nightmare for opponents and in England he is doing the same.”

Salah has quickly become the fulcrum of Jurgen Klopp's attacking plans, scoring goals against any and all opposition, leaving Strootman to hope and pray that he suffers a drop in confidence before facing the 'Wolves'.

“Now he has so much confidence and he just creates the chances himself and finds it easy in front of the goal. I think it is confidence which is the main difference. It did a lot when he played here but now you see if he has a chance and he misses it, the next time he knows he will score. He is doing amazing also with the national team, he did a great job, I think he is the king there now and they want to vote him for president and everything. I just hope in the two games against us he loses his confidence," he continued.

“We have special tactics [for Salah] but I’m not going the share it! Italian defence, that is what I’m hoping for.”