Mo Salah
Mohamed Salah made a triumphant return to Liverpool’s lineup following his absence due to the Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt. Salah’s return was marked by a strong performance as Liverpool secured a 3-0 victory against Marseille at the Orange Velodrome, with goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Jeremie Frimpong, and Cody Gakpo. The match was Salah’s first full 90 minutes since Liverpool’s defeat to PSV on November 26.
Arne Slot said: “It says a lot about how professional he is, that he’s been away for a month with a different team, that he is so fit to play today 90 minutes. He was close to a goal. Good ball from Cody. Usually that’s a goal from him but it didn’t harm us because we scored three. Overall it was good.”
Slot added: “The one I want to point out is (Joe) Gomez. He hasn’t played a lot in the last one-and-a-half years. Suffered sometimes from injury, sometimes I didn’t play him when he was fit. The few times he played were in the FA Cup and League Cup.”
Slot continued: “It’s always very difficult to play Marseille because of their passionate fans and the quality of their players, but what makes it even harder is the quality of their manager. We were prepared for that. On the ball we were controlled but what made the difference this time was that after we had a big chance and hit the post, they had a big chance and put it over. Usually this season, that goes in. Against Burnley we created three or four times more than we did tonight but tonight we scored three. Everyone can disagree with me but we played a very good game against Burnley and another good game tonight, but the tactics were different.”
Salah’s return to the squad was a significant boost for Liverpool, highlighting his professionalism and fitness despite being away for international duty. Although he did not score, his presence on the field was impactful, contributing to Liverpool’s attacking dynamics. Arne Slot also praised Joe Gomez for his performance, noting the defender’s limited playing time over the past year and a half due to injuries and selection choices.
Liverpool’s victory over Marseille was a testament to their tactical adaptability, as they managed to capitalize on their chances despite creating fewer opportunities compared to their previous match against Burnley. The win sets a positive tone for Liverpool as they prepare to return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on Saturday.
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