Arne Slot Highlights Mohamed Salah’s Crucial Role in Liverpool’s Return Match
Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, expressed optimism about the return of Mohamed Salah following his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Salah’s Egypt faced elimination from the tournament after losing to Senegal in the semifinals. Despite this, he will remain with the national team for the third-place play-off against Nigeria in Casablanca.
Key Events Surrounding Salah’s Return
Salah has had a tumultuous period lately, having previously criticized Liverpool’s management for the club’s recent performances. He claimed he felt “thrown under the bus” due to the team’s struggles and mentioned a breakdown in his relationship with Slot. This led to his omission from Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan.
Recently, however, Salah made a significant impact by contributing to Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion before heading off to AFCON. Slot emphasized Salah’s importance to both the club and himself. “I am happy he is back. Mo has been so important for this club and me,” Slot remarked.
Future Matches and Expectations
While Salah is set to play for Egypt on Saturday, he will miss the upcoming match against Burnley in the Premier League. Slot confirmed ongoing discussions about Salah’s availability for Liverpool’s Champions League fixture against Marseille next Wednesday. “We are in talks with him about expectations over there and here,” he explained.
Liverpool’s Form and Goals
Liverpool aims to extend its unbeaten streak to 12 games across all competitions in the match against Burnley. Since a significant 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in November, the team’s performance has improved, though Slot acknowledges there’s still work to be done. “Ideally it’s not just 11 games unbeaten but 11 wins in a row. That is what we aim for,” he said.
- Upcoming Matches:
- Burnley (Premier League)
- Marseille (Champions League)
- Recent Performance:
- 2-0 win over Brighton
- Unbeaten in last 11 games
Slot recognizes the necessity for improvement despite recent successes. “We’re in a much better place than after the PSV game, but there is still enough room for improvement,” he added. This statement reflects the coach’s ambition for Liverpool to reclaim their form in both the Premier League and Champions League.
