Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has warmly praised Mohamed Salah's comprehensive performance during their convincing 3-0 FA Cup victory over Brighton at Anfield, a result that secured their place in the competition's fifth round. The Egyptian forward played a pivotal role, providing an assist and scoring a penalty to cap off a dominant display.
Salah's Crucial Contributions in Key Victory
Mohamed Salah delivered a masterclass in offensive creativity and clinical finishing during the match. He expertly set up Dominik Szoboszlai for Liverpool's second goal with a beautifully cushioned volley, before winning and converting a penalty himself to seal the victory. This came after Curtis Jones had opened the scoring with his first goal in 58 matches, breaking a lengthy drought.
Adapting to a New Role and Defensive Diligence
Slot was particularly impressed with Salah's defensive efforts, noting a significant adaptation since his return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Earlier in the season, Salah's future at the club appeared uncertain following a series of benchings and a reported disagreement with the manager. However, the 33-year-old has since embraced a different tactical role within the team.
"It is very pleasing to have him on the scoresheet again, but what I appreciate most is not just his goal-scoring, which we almost expect, but also how much he helps the team defensively. That is a very positive development," stated the Liverpool boss, highlighting Salah's evolving contribution beyond mere attacking statistics.
Praise for Szoboszlai and Liverpool's Youth Model
After the match, Salah described his close friend Dominik Szoboszlai as currently one of the world's best players, a sentiment fully endorsed by Slot. The Dutch manager elaborated on Szoboszlai's growth since joining from RB Leipzig, using him as a prime example of Liverpool's successful strategy for integrating young talent from other leagues.
"I believe there are many elite footballers globally, but I definitely agree with Mo that Dom is among them," added Slot. "Dominik exemplifies our club's model. We sign promising young players from different leagues, like Leipzig, where he was already recognised for his physicality. The player we acquired was good, but he is now far better than two-and-a-half years ago. This trajectory can be replicated by other signings, such as Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz from the Bundesliga, who will continue to improve with time and regular play."
Brighton's Frustration and Missed Opportunities
For Brighton, the defeat marked their fourth loss in five matches, leaving manager Fabian Hurzeler to lament missed chances. He pointed to two significant opportunities for Jack Hinshelwood and Diego Gomez towards the end of the first half that could have altered the game's outcome.
"Moments decided the match, unfortunately not in our favour," Hurzeler reflected. "Liverpool's opening goal came somewhat unexpectedly. We had two major chances where we simply had to score. The second half followed a similar pattern. They possessed the quality to capitalise on their opportunities, whereas we lacked that effectiveness. It is a disappointing result for us."
Salah's penalty goal was only his second for Liverpool since November 1, underscoring what has been a relatively subdued season by his lofty standards. Nonetheless, his recent performances suggest a positive resurgence and a valuable adaptation to Slot's tactical demands, offering optimism for the remainder of Liverpool's campaign.
