Premier League
After Zoff: Salah sets a record when he returns to Liverpool
Star striker Mohamed Salah is missing from the Reds’ Champions League squad after a dispute. Coach Arne Slot brings him back and substitutes him. The Egyptian plays as if nothing ever happened.
Substitute Mohamed Salah performed well on his return to the Liverpool FC squad and set a record. The star striker, who has been criticized, came on as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion in the 26th minute and set a milestone with his assist for the goal that made the final score 2-0 (1-0).
The Egyptian now has 277 goal involvements for a single Premier League club, more than anyone else in the history of the English top flight. He previously shared the record with Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
After the final whistle, the visibly touched Salah thanked the fans for the applause and chants. To some observers it looked like a farewell. “I think he wasn’t the only one who thanked the fans after the game, because the fans deserved a thank you from us,” said coach Slot: “Mo is now going to the Africa Cup of Nations, I hope he does well. And in the meantime we have to play here without him as we don’t have many players available at the moment.”
Many fans in Anfield had already cheered Salah when he was substituted after about half an hour. He came into the game in place of the injured Joe Gomez. It was clear to see that the offensive star, who enjoyed playing, wanted to prove himself.
In the previous Champions League game at Inter Milan, Salah was eliminated because of his angry speech against the club and coach Arne Slot. “The result of this conversation will decide what happens tomorrow,” Slot said at the press conference for the game. The result of the conversation was that Salah was at least allowed to sit on the bench.
When Salah came on, the English champions were already leading 1-0 because former Frankfurt player Hugo Ekitiké scored a goal in the first minute. Salah then set up Ekitiké’s second goal with a corner. In stoppage time, Salah missed a great chance to score his own goal.
That’s why there is excitement about Salah
The 33-year-old’s future with the Reds is still very questionable. “The club promised me a lot in the summer. Now I’m sitting on the bench, so I can say that they didn’t keep that promise,” Salah said after the game at Leeds United, causing a lot of excitement.
It was the third game in a row in which Salah was not in the starting line-up. “I had a good relationship with the coach. All of a sudden we no longer have a relationship at all. And I don’t know why. Apparently someone doesn’t want me at the club anymore,” he complained.
Liverpool FC got off to a weak start to the season, but without Salah they managed a 1-0 win in the Champions League at Inter Milan. An important victory was also achieved in the league – also thanks to Salah.
dpa
