Mohamed Salah started for a second game in succession following his return from AFCON as Liverpool faced Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The Egyptian was livid at being left out of three consecutive line-ups before his international absence, and for a while it had seemed like he may even be heading for a premature Anfield exit.
Mentally, some Liverpool supporters have already been planning for life without Salah, with Arne Slot experimenting with some new attacking systems while he was away.
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Any surprises for the Bournemouth starting XI?
Joe Gomez pictured in action during Liverpool's Carabao Cup match against Southampton at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC
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Given the forwards at his disposal, it is a little hard to see where Salah fits into the jigsaw in the long-term. However, the 33-year-old looked at home in a wide centre forward role against Marseille in midweek and resurrected the role during Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth.
Before the match, Slot explained exactly how he sees Salah fit into his new tactic and within minutes of the game at the Vitality Stadium, the No. 11 had shown how it can work.
Mohamed Salah thrives in free role
Before his exit for the Africa Cup of Nations, Salah had begun to look a shadow of the player who has lit Liverpool up for almost a full decade.
With his role slightly altered upon his return, however, the Egyptian King looked extremely lively in the opening stages against Bournemouth.
Mohamed Salah chases the ball during Liverpool's Premier League match against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images
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As Slot explained via premierleague.com before the match, the idea is to get Salah in dangerous areas as often as possible.
“[Mo Salah] has the freedom to find the position where he thinks he can hurt the opposition the most,” said the Dutchman.
“That came sometimes be in the middle or sometimes out wide, it depends where the space is. It’s about bringing players like him into positions where he can make the difference.”
What’s Liverpool’s best front three now that Salah’s back?
With Florian Wirtz in the 10 🔥
Mohamed Salah pictured in Liverpool training with Arne Slot in the background.
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Salah shows how important he can still be
Although Liverpool could not make it count during the early stages against Bournemouth, Salah’s showing did at least prove how he can still be important within the team this season.
It is unlikely Slot will be able to keep the same system when both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak are ready to be back involved in the starting XI, but until then, Salah can be the key man once again.
Perhaps most excitingly, there was some nice link-up play with Florian Wirtz, which had not been seen especially often before his time with Egypt.
It is crucial that whoever plays in this front two for Liverpool enjoys a good understanding with Wirtz and, for arguably the first time, Salah showed that on Saturday. Positive signs.
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