Mohamed Salah earned glowing praise from Arne Slot after his historic performance in Liverpool’s thrilling 2-1 Champions League victory over Lille at Anfield.
Salah opened the scoring with a signature clinical finish, marking a milestone as the first Liverpool player to net 50 goals in European competitions.
The game shifted further in Liverpool’s favor when Lille’s Aïssa Mandi received a second yellow card, leaving the French side down to 10 men.
Despite their disadvantage, Lille fought back valiantly. Jonathan David capitalized on a rare opportunity with an instinctive finish to level the score.
However, substitute Harvey Elliott restored Liverpool’s lead, his deflected strike delighting the Anfield faithful and securing the Reds’ flawless group stage record.
The win guarantees Liverpool’s place in the Champions League’s last 16, ensuring they will be seeded for the next round. Salah’s monumental achievement, however, stole the spotlight.
Speaking about the Egyptian star post-match, Slot remarked, “Special is the word for Mo. He’s been outstanding for years, and when he’s in a one-on-one situation, you always feel he’ll score.”
Slot also praised his team’s collective effort, emphasizing the buildup to Salah’s goal. “The work-rate leading up to Curtis Jones’ pass shows why we’re doing so well,” he added.
With Liverpool already through, the revamped Champions League format introduces uncertainty about their next opponent.
Slot acknowledged this, saying, “In this new system, some teams have benefited from easier draws, while others have struggled with tougher ones. It’s too soon to call being seeded an advantage.”
As the Reds march into the knockout stage, their form and resilience make them a force to reckon with in Europe.