Suddenly, Anfield came to life. Just two minutes after Cody Gakpo had leveled, Liverpool embarked on a sweeping attacking move that ended with a classic Mohamed Salah finish.
The new Liverpool under Arne Slot is more controlled but this was a Jurgen Klopp-like counter-attack with substitutes Curtis Jones and Luis Diaz integral. Jones drove forward and played a dynamic one-two with the Colombian, playing a more central role than usual, before setting Salah away. When he cut inside onto his left foot, the outcome was inevitable.
"The second goal was a Mo Salah special!" Slot told the BBC during his post-match interview for Match of the Day. "It's not the first and not the last time he will score from that position."
Liverpool just saw new side to Arne Slot as Luis Diaz change speaks volumes I heard Pep Guardiola comment but it actually reveals truth about Liverpool threatSalah is now eighth in the Premier League all-time top scorers list, moving ahead of Robbie Fowler. "I always liked number nine," Fowler joked when his record was beaten and he fell down a place in the rankings.
And the UK national media was full of praise for the current Liverpool talisman. Both The Times and the Sunday Mirror gave him an 8/10 rating for his "superb" display, while The Guardian described his goal as "stupendous".
Salah is now on 16 goal contributions in 15 games this season — nine goals and seven assists; one or the other every 73 minutes on the field — and he remains the most prolific and reliable Liverpool attacker. Inside the final year of his contract, the case for an extension has been evident for some time.
Liverpool.com says: Salah has long been in the conversation for being one of the very best Liverpool players of all time, but his contract situation has to be about what he can offer in the future rather than what he has done in the past. Quite clearly, though, his influence is still strong. When the Reds needed a goal, it was him who stepped up.
Salah might be 32 but his numbers are still very, very good. He remains the most important player in the Liverpool team and Slot is loving working with him so far. To lose such a talent on a free transfer would be a very bad idea when he wants to stay. Replacing him will be near-impossible whenever the time comes.
