Liverpool manager Arne Slot has lauded Mohamed Salah's exceptional professionalism and highlighted Joe Gomez's pivotal contribution after his team secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Marseille in the Champions League. The result propelled Liverpool to fourth place in their group standings, significantly enhancing their prospects of avoiding the playoff round next month.
Salah's Immediate Impact After International Duty
Mohamed Salah, returning to action after representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, played the full ninety minutes despite having only one day of training with the squad. Although the forward missed a clear opportunity late in the match, his overall performance was instrumental in Liverpool's comprehensive away triumph.
Slot expressed admiration for Salah's dedication, stating: "It says a lot about how big a professional he is that he can be away for more than a month with a different team and be so fit to play 90 for us after one day's training. He was so close to a goal, it would usually be a goal from him, but it didn't harm us because we scored three."
Gomez Earns Special Praise from Slot
The Liverpool head coach reserved particular acclaim for defender Joe Gomez, who delivered an outstanding display in Marseille. Gomez has faced considerable injury challenges in recent seasons, and Slot acknowledged his resilience and importance to the team's defensive solidity.
"I saw a lot of good individual performances tonight but I would like to single out Joe Gomez," Slot remarked. "He has suffered a lot with injuries in the last few years and I haven't picked him sometimes when he has been fit. Tonight he was outstanding and so important to us winning 3-0."
Strategic Analysis of Liverpool's Performance
Arne Slot provided a nuanced assessment of Liverpool's tactical approach, contrasting their creativity in a recent Premier League draw against Burnley with their efficiency in front of goal against Marseille. He noted that while the team generated fewer clear chances in France, their clinical finishing made the decisive difference.
"Against Burnley we created three or four times more than we did tonight but tonight we scored three," Slot explained. "Everyone can disagree with me but we played a very good game against Burnley and another good game tonight, but the tactics were different."
The manager also highlighted a crucial moment when Marseille's Hamed Traore missed a significant chance at 1-0, which could have altered the match's complexion. Slot emphasised the challenging atmosphere created by Marseille's passionate supporters and the quality of their manager, Roberto De Zerbi.
Szoboszlai's Clever Free-Kick Execution
Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring with an inventive free-kick that he swept underneath the Marseille wall, exploiting the absence of a player lying behind it. The midfielder revealed that his preparation paid dividends in executing the set-piece.
"I did my homework," Szoboszlai said. "I got told that if nobody is laying down then maybe I can have a chance to hit it under the wall. No-one was laying down so I tried it and it worked out."
This victory represents Liverpool's ninth win in their last eleven European away fixtures, demonstrating their formidable form on the continent. The team now prepares to host Qarabag at Anfield in their final group stage match, aiming to consolidate their position and secure a favourable draw in the knockout phases.
