Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah requested to be substituted during the team’s Champions League game against Galatasaray at Anfield on Wednesday after “he felt something”
Arne Slot has provided an update on Mohamed Salah(Image: TNT Sports)
Arne Slot has confirmed Mohamed Salah has “felt something” after hobbling out of Liverpool’s game against Galatasaray.
Salah produced one of his best performances of the season at Anfield on Wednesday, helping Liverpool win 4-0 to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League. The Egyptian scored and assisted Hugo Ekitike’s goal, despite missing a first-half penalty.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch also found the net, as Liverpool won 4-1 on aggregate to set up a quarterfinal with Paris Saint-Germain. Yet Salah was unable to finish the game and requested a change in the 74th minute, making way for Cody Gakpo.
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Slot was asked about Salah’s fitness by reporters after Wednesday’s game. He replied: “He was asking for a substitution, not because he felt he’d scored enough, but he felt something. So let’s see where he is for the weekend and afterwards.”
Despite picking up an injury and missing a penalty, it was a great night for Salah after his assist and goal. The latter moment was particularly special for the Egyptian, as he became the first African player to score 50 goals in the Champions League.
“Brilliant, sensational from Mo Salah,” said former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson on BBC Radio 5 Live after Salah’s goal.
“You can run out of superlatives for him at times. He really has been at his best. That was a special finish from Mo Salah.
Robinson added after the 33-year-old left the field: “Mo Salah has been excellent. In the second half, he was back to his very best. The assist for the goal was sensational, and his goal was as good as you will see from him.”
Slot was asked about Salah’s goal while speaking to TNT Sports at full-time. He said: “I think it says a lot about his mentality that he missed the penalty, which was a difficult moment. He then produced a great assist, and then his goal is just a trademark of his.
“It means a lot for me and the players to get love from the fans. Anfield showed we can create an atmosphere better than Galatasaray at their place. Our fans reacted when they saw that they were wasting time, and that helped a lot.”
On his team’s performance, Slot added: “I liked the way we played, and I liked the way we pressed.
“Also, the reaction from the fans when Galatasaray were trying to do what I expected them to, being on the floor and trying to kill the momentum.
“The only complaint is throughout the whole season we’ve had so many chances where we’ve not scored, that’s the only thing.
“The positive thing is we’ve had good halves and then spells of 10 minutes, where we’ve usually given a moment for the other team to score. But today nothing dropped, I don’t think they had a chance. We kept on creating and creating.
“It’s pleasing to keep a clean sheet. We’ve not conceded many chances, but we concede goals.
“But tonight we didn’t even concede a chance.”
More to follow…
