Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool teammate comments directly on his ‘tough’ season

Mohamed Salah rediscovered some of his form to help Liverpool to a resounding victory over Galatasaray, and book the Reds’ place in the Champions League quarter-finals

Hugo Ekitike lauded Mohamed Salah’s mindset amid his “difficult season” after the Egyptian played a huge role in Liverpool’s Champions League comeback against Galatasaray.

The Reds booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition, becoming only the second of six Premier League sides to do so, after blowing away their Turkish opponents at Anfield.

Having suffered a 1-0 defeat in Istanbul last week, Liverpool came storming back with a resounding 4-0 victory in the second leg to set up a rematch with Paris Saint-Germain in the next round, having been knocked out by the French side in last season’s competition.

Ekitike and Salah were both on the scoresheet, alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, as Liverpool rediscovered some of its best form after the disappointment of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

Salah in particular looked to be back close to his best again during the second half, having recovered from his first-half penalty miss to score his 50th Champions League goal, and set up Ekitike for the goal that put Liverpool ahead in the tie.

“He’s a legend, you know,” Ekitike told TNT Sports after the game. “Obviously sometimes people say he’s had a difficult season…but tonight he had many chances, and still had the mindset to give me a great ball.

“Really happy for him. He deserved it. And yeah, we need to do that every game now.”

Despite Salah’s resurgence, he did leave Arne Slot with a major concern after asking to be substituted with just over 15 minutes remaining, having seemingly picked up a knock.

The 33-year-old could now be a doubt for Saturday’s Premier League game against Brighton, when the Reds will be aiming to boost their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

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“He was asking for a substitution, not because he felt he’d scored enough, but he felt something,” Slot confirmed. “So let’s see where he is for the weekend and afterwards.”

Liverpool.com says: Salah showed the perfect mentality to bounce back from that first-half penalty miss. Given the way his and Liverpool’s season has gone, it felt like that could have had a really damaging effect, but he typified the Reds’ improved performance.

It’s just a shame that he does appear to have picked up a knock. Fingers crossed it isn’t anything too serious, and hopefully he will be fit to play against Brighton at the weekend. If not, then the international break may come at a good time to let him recover.