As ever, all eyes were on Mohamed Salah on Saturday as he was restored to Liverpool’s starting XI against Fulham.
Playing at Anfield for the first time since announcing his imminent departure from the club, the Egyptian had a point to prove having been left out of Wednesday’s clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
There were some question marks over Slot‘s decision not to bring Salah on at all in Paris, but the 33-year-old proved his head coach absolutely right on Saturday by starting Liverpool‘s clash with Fulham looking well-rested and in much better form.
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Jeremie Frimpong takes throw-in for Liverpool in front of Arne Slot
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Salah looks better for a week off vs Fulham
After three consecutive defeats across three different competitions, Liverpool fans had a right to feel nervous coming into Saturday’s match.
However, their team started off in much better fashion, looking lively, energetic and full of intensity against the Cottagers.
Salah was at the forefront of that, immediately throwing himself into the action, linking up well with Jeremie Frimpong and testing Bernd Leno with an excellent snapshot.
It was noticeable that Liverpool were looking to get their No. 11 on the ball as often as possible, and the team looked better for it.
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Having looked slow and cumbersome during his last outing at Manchester City, this was more like the Salah Liverpool fans are used to seeing.
There are clearly multiple reasons for that, but the rest in Paris – both physically and mentally – surely played a part.
Slot deserves praise for Salah management
Although his inclination has usually been to play him, Slot deserves genuine praise for his handling of Salah when the veteran has been out of form this season.
He was ultimately proven right in his initial decision to drop him back in December, and while there was pressure to chuck him on against PSG, Slot stuck to his guns once again, recognising that Salah perhaps needed a break to be fresh for the upcoming run of games.
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Mohamed Salah scores a free-kick during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Qarabag at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar
With Salah looking sharper, Liverpool will stand a much better chance of overcoming the two-goal deficit and getting back into the tie in midweek.
He has got plenty wrong this season, and he has been hammered for that, but Slot should be applauded when things go right for him as well.
Saturday, at least initially, was one of those moments, and the hope will be that Salah, Slot and the Liverpool fans will be the ones to benefit.
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