Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah should win the Ballon d'Or for the standard of his performances over the last year... but the Liverpool boss admits he is in the dark over new contract talks with the Anfield hero 

• Mohamed Salah has scored 10 goals in 10 games for Liverpool so far this season
• Last year, Salah fired 31 goals in 51 games in all competitions for Liverpool
• Jurgen Klopp says Salah would be a worthy winner of the Ballon d'Or 

Jurgen Klopp says Mohamed Salah would be a deserved Ballon d'Or winner this year - but accepted his lack of silveware from the 2020-21 seaosn may hold him back.

Liverpool finished third in the Premier League last season after enduring an unrelenting array of injuries, but Salah was a consistent performer for the Reds and scored 31 goals in 51 games.

The 29-year-old has started this campaign in electrifying form, with 10 goals in as many games prompting the discussion that Salah is at present the best player in the world.

Speaking on Monday, ahead of Liverpool's Champions League encounter away to Atletico Madrid, Klopp was asked if Salah could win the Ballon d'Or this year.

'Yes - I have no idea exactly how you win the Ballon d'Or,' Klopp said. 'If it's about being in the Champions League final, scoring the most goals then it might be slightly difficult.

'But if it's about performances over the last two years then yes, he has a chance in my point of view.'

Salah has been nominated for the gong, with the winner announced on November 29. 

Salah scored a stunning individual effort against Watford on Saturday as Liverpool ran out emphatic 5-0 winners. It mimicked another stunner he scored in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester City prior to the international break.

His relentless scoring form comes amid a backdrop of talks over a new Anfield contract for the Egypt star.

Salah's current deal, worth £200,000-a-week, expires in 2023 and the Mirror reported over the weekend that his agent is set for talks over new terms that could be worth up to £500,000-a-week.

Klopp was also asked if Salah's form makes contract talks easier or harder.

'I don’t know,' he said coyly. 'We will see.'