Mohamed Salah has dreamed of breaking Liverpool's Premier League scoring record since his breakthrough campaign at Anfield.
The Egypt international needs just two strikes to surpass Robbie Fowler's 128-goal benchmark for Liverpool ahead of Sunday's clash at home to fierce rivals Manchester United.
Salah has failed to hit his own lofty standards this campaign, finding the net nine times in 24 league outings for Jurgen Klopp's side.
The former Chelsea and Roma forward hopes he will not have long to wait to celebrate making history for the Reds.
When asked by Sky Sports about beating Fowler's mark, the 30-year-old said: "This record especially, I think for me, it is really special.
"I think when I came, after my first season, I had 32 goals, and I thought I want to be the top scorer for Liverpool in the Premier League.
"I had that in my mind that I need to chase it. That was one of my motivations. Every day I [would] just wake up and I'd want to break that record.
"For me, it is going to be special. To be number one will be special for my career here in Liverpool. It's something I've been really chasing."
Erik ten Hag's United present the perfect opportunity for Salah to enjoy a landmark moment, having netted 10 times in all competitions against the Red Devils – no Liverpool player has scored more.
Salah will look to add to his tally of nine goals in his past five outings against United as he strives to surpass Fowler's haul.
"I think I started to look more at that number maybe when I scored 15, 20," he continued. "But then I was thinking that it is still so far away – more than 100 goals.
"I wasn't sure how many seasons I would be here, because it was my first season and after how many seasons [will it take] to break that record.
"But if you break it after six seasons then that is something great and something that I will be very proud of."
Salah already boasts the record as the top-scoring African in the Premier League, while he grabbed Liverpool's European scoring record with a goal in the recent 5-2 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
While he suggested Fowler's record may mark his greatest Liverpool achievement, Salah insisted personal milestones are no replacement for team success.
"I've had good ones at Liverpool," he said of his record-breaking exploits, before adding: "To be fair, as long as we achieve something as a team that is the most important thing for me.
"I don't want to be in a smaller team and be the only one breaking records. For me, I want to win trophies, I want the players to be happy, and I'm in a top club.
"To break that record in a club like Liverpool is something [that is going to be] huge."
Returning fan favourite Alonso calls Liverpool 'one of Europe's best'
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso hailed his former club Liverpool as "one of Europe's best" as he prepares for his Anfield return.
Alonso, who spent five successful years at Anfield and helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005, returns to his former stomping ground when Leverkusen take on the Reds on Tuesday.
Arne Slot has won 12 of his first 14 matches in charge of Liverpool, including all three in the Champions League so far.
Leverkusen have only won one of their 11 away major European matches in England (D3 L7), and have lost their last two visits to Anfield, and Alonso is under no illusion as to the scale of the task that awaits the reigning Bundesliga champions.
"For us, it is a big challenge," he said.
"Liverpool at the moment are one of the best, if not the best, in Europe, they are showing that in the Premier League and Champions League, a good squad, great coach. We're looking forward to it. Let's see what happens.
"You can play 70 minutes great but in 20 minutes it [the game] is gone, so it is mentally and emotionally we need to be ready.
"In all areas, they are really strong, so the process works really well. [Slot] has done a fantastic job in three months."
Alonso played 210 times across all competitions for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, scoring 18 goals and providing 20 assists.
After winning the Champions League with the Reds in 2005, he helped them reach the final in 2007, though they lost to Milan on that occasion.
However, the Spaniard does not think he will have too much time for a trip down memory lane.
"Unfortunately, there is no time for tourism – maybe a little run or walk," he said.
"I know the city very well, I love it, but tomorrow I will focus on the game and only the game.
"It feels great to be back here after a few years. It's always special. You notice the development of the club; the new stand looks amazing.
"It is a big game against Liverpool, it cannot get much better than that."
The omens are not great for Leverkusen, though.
Liverpool have lost one of their last 21 European meetings with German opponents (W14 D6), albeit that one defeat came against Leverkusen in 2002.
Neymar suffers fresh injury blow
Neymar sustained a new injury as he was forced off during Al-Hilal's AFC Champions League Elite win over Esteghlal.
Aleksandar Mitrovic plundered a hat-trick on Monday to seal a 3-0 win.
But Al-Hilal's victory was soured by an injury to Neymar, who had to make way just 29 minutes after he came on as a second-half substitute.
The Brazilian, who has just returned from over a year out of action following a serious knee injury, was forced off with what appeared to be a thigh issue.
Indeed, Monday's appearance was only the 32-year-old's second for Al-Hilal since his comeback.
He has featured just seven times for the Saudi Pro League champions in all competitions since his big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
Amorim: Man Utd will think 'new Alex Ferguson has arrived' if Sporting beat Man City
Ruben Amorim joked Manchester United fans will think he is the next Alex Ferguson if Sporting CP manage to beat Manchester City in the Champions League.
The head coach has agreed to join the Red Devils and will take charge from November 11 after signing a contract with the club until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Before then, he has two games left in charge of Sporting, starting with their Champions League match against Pep Guardiola's men on Tuesday.
Sporting have made a perfect start to the Primeira Liga, winning all 10 of their games, and have made an unbeaten start in Europe, but Amorim is prepared to come under more scrutiny while on the touchline against City.
"Winning tomorrow would be brilliant. Would I be a hero at Manchester United before I land? I don't think about that, my focus is on winning the game for Sporting," Amorim told a press conference.
"The inferences that people will draw from this game are not important to me because they can be misleading. If the result was very negative, expectations will be lowered, and I don't think that is a bad starting point when I start at United.
"If we win tomorrow, they will think that the new Alex Ferguson has arrived and that will be very difficult to maintain. What interests me is to win tomorrow, to have a farewell at Alvalade, then win in Braga and then start in Manchester.
"It can increase or decrease expectations. I don't know what is better. I want to leave the fans and the players happy and confident and qualify the team for the play-offs."
Sporting won their first European meeting with City in March 2012 in the Europa League, but are winless in their last three against them (D1 L2).
However, they are unbeaten in their first three Champions League games so far this season, and if they avoid defeat on Tuesday, they will equal their longest-ever unbeaten run in the competition (four between September 1982 and March 1983).
The 39-year-old boasts the best win ratio of any Sporting coach on record in the Primeira Liga, winning 120 of his 156 such games in charge (76.92%), but captain Morten Hjulmand said the team are ready to prove they do not need Amorim, who agreed with the sentiment.
"Yes, [Sporting is prepared for his departure]. You heard Hjulmand say that they no longer need the coach," he added.
"They are very mature; they understand the game very well. They are prepared, it won't make any difference in the end.
"There is a change, of course, but the team is prepared and has enough maturity to move forward."
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