Mohamed Salah started his first Liverpool game for over a month when the Reds travelled to Marseille in midweek.
The Egyptian had been placed on the bench for four Premier League games in a row and was dropped against Inter Milan prior to his spell at the AFCON.
Upon his return, Salah told Liverpool he wanted to play, and Arne Slot put him straight back into the eleven.
Who was your man of the match during the win over Marseille?
Nice to have a few contenders!
It was by no means a standout display from the 33-year-old, with players like Milos Kerkez catching the eye instead.
Nonetheless, Liverpool were much improved overall, and Stephen Warnock thinks Salah’s biggest issue has been solved.
Mohamed Salah did not defend against Marseille
A number of people, including Wayne Rooney, have questioned Salah’s defensive work this season.
Speaking after the Manchester City defeat late last year, the former striker said: “Salah, actually, last season against City was probably the hardest I’ve ever seen him work. He got back, and he did defend.
“But this season, he didn’t. And then there’s big gaps and there’s holes, and that’s where they looked open.”
However, the winger’s defensive responsibility was largely taken away in Liverpool’s new system, as Stephen Warnock has explained via BBC Sport.
He said: “Salah slotted in nicely into Liverpool’s shape. If you want to get the best out of him, you need continuity and consistency, so I think Slot will use him like this again. It takes away that defensive responsibility, of having to track back as far as when he is out wide.
“It leaves him fresher and more dangerous when he is not running as much. Tonight it almost felt like he was on the shoulder of his defender all the time, sniffing for chances, and he got two great opportunities where he should have done better.”
How good has Kerkez been recently?
His display vs Marseille was possibly his best so far
Arne Slot verdict on Mohamed Salah after Marseille
Thankfully, the unpleasantness brought about after the 3-3 draw versus Leeds United last month now looks to be behind us.
What will happen in the summer remains to be seen, but Salah and Slot seem to be on decent terms now.
Commenting on the winger post-match, as per the BBC, the Liverpool boss hailed his professionalism.
He said: “It says a lot about how big a professional he [Salah] is that he can be away for more than a month with a different team and be so fit to play 90 minutes for us after one day of 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.”
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