Slot hails Salah for matching Reds record; Pep eyes rest for players

Arne Slot praised Mohamed Salah after the “unbelievable” Egypt star equalled Liverpool’s record for assists in the Premier League by setting up Virgil van Dijk’s winner in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory at Sunderland.

Slot’s willingness to highlight Salah’s perfectly weighted corner that Van Dijk headed home in the 61st minute signalled the continued rehabilitation of his relationship with the forward.

Salah claimed the club had “thrown him under the bus” and made it clear he was not on good terms with Slot after he was dropped for several games amid a sustained dip in form earlier this season.

The outburst prompted speculation that Salah could be sold, but he quickly cleared the air with Slot to get back in the Dutchman’s line-up.

Salah’s latest assist in his glittering Liverpool career took him to 92 -- level with Anfield icon Steven Gerrard.

“He has so many records for this club, but to have this one combined with such a great player. Both were unbelievable players for this club,” Slot said.

“Unfortunately for Steven, I expect Mo to go above him. I don’t expect, but I hope he goes above him.”

Liverpool’s second win in their last eight league games ended Sunderland’s unbeaten home record in the top flight this season.

It lifted Slot’s sixth-placed team to within two points of fifth-placed Chelsea and three of fourth-placed Manchester United.

“Very important. I think we dug deep, after only two days of rest. Then going to a difficult away game. We showed again how well we can play on the ball,” Slot said.

“The character we have shown throughout the whole game was very good and that is why we leave this place with a 1-0 win.

“Second half, we had so many good moments and so many moments where we had quality players in promising positions.

“The overall performance in terms of work rate was really good.”

There was less good news for Slot on the injury front after Japan midfielder Wataru Endo was stretchered off in the first half.

Endo was deputising for injured right-backs Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong while Dominik Szoboszlai serves a suspension.

“We don’t expect a positive outcome. Like I said, we have to wait and see. We expect not to have him for quite a long time,” Slot said of Endo’s injury.

“That is not the first time with our right full-backs. We have accepted this every time. We have to find solutions to keep performing well.”

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is hoping two rare free midweeks will refresh his “exhausted” Manchester City squad for the Premier League title run-in after beating Fulham 3-0 on Wednesday.

City cut the gap on leaders Arsenal to three points ahead of the Gunners’ trip to Brentford on Thursday.

Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland struck in 15 first-half minutes as City built on the momentum gained from a dramatic late fightback to win at Liverpool on Sunday.

“One of the best (performances) of the season, especially after Anfield for our experience there, in an important, emotional game,” said Guardiola.

“The next one is always tricky. We were lucky we were home.”

Guardiola substituted Haaland at half-time and replaced Bernardo Silva and Rodri early in the second half.

City and are still involved in four competitions. But after the visit of League Two Salford in the FA Cup on Saturday, they have two free midweeks to prepare for Premier League games against Newcastle and Leeds before the end of the month.

“Bernardo was exhausted, Rodri was exhausted. He (Rodri) didn’t lose one ball and then in the second half he lost 10 balls,” added Guardiola.

“Now we have Salford then we need to not see each other and rest. We have an incredibly tough schedule, like Arsenal, and we will have a midweek off.

“It’s been so tough and with a lot of injuries. Salford and then we need two, three, four or five days off.”

Brighton midfielder James Milner equalled a Premier League record when he made his 653rd appearance in Wednesday’s match against Aston Villa.

Milner’s milestone moment came when he was introduced as a substitute in the first half at Villa Park.

The 40-year-old has drawn level with former Villa and Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry for the most games played in the Premier League.

Of Milner’s 653 appearances, 435 have been starts and 218 from the bench.

A Premier League champion with Liverpool and Manchester City, Milner has made 15 top-flight appearances this season, with 13 as a substitute.

Milner, who made his debut with Leeds in 2002, would break the all-time record if he appears in Brighton’s next league game at Brentford on February 21.

Agencies