Mohamed Salah showed nerves of steel when he converted a late winning penalty in Liverpool's thrilling 4-3 victory over promoted Leeds on Saturday but he said it was easy to score without fans in the stands.

Before the coronavirus pandemic forced games to take place behind closed doors, the support of the passionate Liverpool fans at Anfield was key to spur the Reds into action in difficult moments.

Sometimes players can't handle such pressure but that does not apply to Mo Salah, who netted a hat-trick on the first day of the Premier League.

"I scored a penalty in the Champions League final, so it was a little bit easier, especially with no fans!" Salah, who also converted a last-gasp penalty that sent Egypt to the 2018 World Cup finals for the first time in almost three decades, told SkySports in a pitch-side interview.

"It's important for me to just keep my focus and score."

Salah became the first Liverpool player to score on the opening day for four consecutive seasons, and only the second in the Premier League after former England striker Teddy Sheringham, who achieved the feat from 1992-93 to 1995-96.    

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