Mohamed Salah grabs the ball after scoring for Liverpool.Photograph: Visionhaus/Getty Images
Arne Slot hinted that Mohamed Salah and Liverpool could yet find a way to extend their relationship beyond the end of this season after the Egypt right winger scored twice, created another goal and hit the bar in the Premier League leaders’ 3-3 draw at Newcastle.
It took the league’s leading scorer’s tally to nine in the past seven games and, in the aftermath of an utterly brilliant, game-changing second-half performance, Liverpool’s manager was fulsome in his praise for Salah.
Related:Fabian Schär stuns Liverpool to snatch late Newcastle equaliser in thriller
”Every time we need Mo he scores a goal,” said Slot, as he answered questions regarding the potential outcome of Salah’s complicated contract extension negotiations with the Anfield board. “We are hoping and we expect he can continue this for a long time. He was outstanding in the second half, he did many special things for us. Mo had a massive impact.
“It’s difficult to predict the future but Mo’s in an incredible place in a very good team that gives him opportunities at the moment and he’s able to do special things. He wasn’t playing his best game at first but then he did things not many players can do. He’s a special player. His finishing is so clinical. He leads by example and he trains so hard it is not surprising he does so well.”
Not that the visiting manager was exactly content. “I’ve mixed feelings,” said Slot. “We were outstanding in the second half but not so good in the first half. Maybe 3-3 was the score the game deserved. In the first time we had problems with their intensity and aggressive pressing style. They forced us into too many first-half mistakes but in the second half it was difficult for them to repeat the intensity of the first 45 minutes. To go away to Newcastle is a difficult game, they have so much quality.”
Newcastle’s manager Eddie Howe appeared relieved by a much-improved performance from his side, with the latterly out of sorts, Alexander Isak, inspirational at centre forward from where the Sweden striker scored one goal and created another for Anthony Gordon before Fabian Schär’s late equaliser. “Liverpool were the best team we’ve faced this season,” he said. “But it’s mixed emotions, I’m disappointed we haven’t won. It was Alex’s (Isak’s) best performance of the season. We need more of those.
“But tonight we were everything we want to be, body language, pressing, attitude. We were more like ourselves. I thought Anthony (Gordon) was electric. But we need to hit those standards consistently.”