Liverpool held by Newcastle United but Arne Slot salutes ‘special’ Mohamed Salah

NEWCASTLE – Arne Slot saluted “special” Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward underlined his value to the English Premier League leaders with a double in the thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle United on Dec 4.

The Dutchman’s side were unable to extend their seven-game winning run in all competitions, after Fabian Schar punished a mistake from Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to equalise in the 90th minute at St James’ Park.

But despite seeing their lead at the top reduced to seven points, Liverpool are still in pole position to win a first title since 2020, largely thanks to another brilliant campaign from Salah.

The Egyptian star has 15 goals in all competitions, including nine in his last seven league games.

Yet the 32-year-old’s future at Anfield remains a hot topic, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season and no new deal forthcoming.

Salah has admitted he feels “more out than in” at Liverpool, amid talk of a potential lucrative move to Saudi Arabia.

Slot would not be drawn into pleading with Salah to stay in public, but he made it clear how important he has been in his first season in charge.

“It’s difficult for me to predict the long-term future, but the only thing I can expect or predict is that he is in a very good place at the moment,” the manager said.

“He plays in a very good team that provides him with good opportunities and then he is able to do special things.

“And what makes him, for me, even more special is that in the first hour or before we scored to make it 1-1, you thought, ‘He’s not playing his best game today’.

“Then to come up with a half-hour or 45 minutes with an assist, two goals, having a shot on the bar, being a constant threat, that is something not many players can do, if they’ve played the first hour like he did.

“That is also what makes him special. If you just look at the goals, his finish is so clinical. He’s a special player, but that’s what we all know.”

Salah has scored and assisted in 37 Premier League games in his career – a record – and leads this season’s top-flight scoring chart with 13 goals.

Newcastle went in at the break ahead after Alexander Isak’s stunning 35th-minute finish.

Salah laid on Curtis Jones’ 50th-minute equaliser, before Anthony Gordon restored Newcastle’s advantage 12 minutes later.

Salah levelled in the 68th minute and slotted Liverpool in front with seven minutes left before Kelleher’s mistake cost his team a valuable victory.

“The shot from Isak, I don’t even know if Caoimhin saw that ball, as hard as it was,” Slot said.

“He has done remarkably well for us and even today he was good. Unfortunately, he misjudged the situation (for the equaliser).”

Schar confessed his sensational equaliser was an attempt to keep the ball in play.

He dived with his feet forward to send a Bruno Guimaraes free kick into the net from a tight angle as Kelleher was caught out of position.

“Well to be honest, I was on a stretch so I thought I’d try to keep it in play and bring it into the dangerous area,” the Swiss defender told Amazon Prime, adding that he could not say whether he actually wanted to shoot.

“But obviously great goal, a great finish.”

His manager Eddie Howe added: “Our mental quality came to the fore and we got the equaliser. We had chances to make it 2-0, we scored three goals and looked dynamic and energetic.

“I am really proud. We went toe-to-toe and matched them, it’s our best of the season. Our game plan was to be ourselves, which is difficult against a team like Liverpool, it’s a delicate balance.

“Alexander Isak was really good tonight, if we get our players firing, we are some team.” AFP, REUTERS