Key events
Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler has been reflecting on a difficult few games for his side: there was the FA Cup quarter-final exit to Nottingham Forest, a 3-0 loss at home to Aston Villa, and then defeat to rivals Crystal Palace. Cue some inspiration … from Gareth Southgate.
Of course, everyone can imagine if you have these three bad results it’s not the perfect week. Yesterday I saw a lecture from Gareth Southgate and he was talking at the Richard Dimbleby lecture. And he talked about how to build resilience. And I really liked that. He talked about, you need to fail to build this resilience and I think we [are] exactly in the same situation. We need to fail to build that resilience.
You have to go through it together and my job there is to give the guys the biggest belief I have to them that we get through this phase together.
Morning, all. We haven’t got to Spurs yet: it was a mixed evening for Ange Postecoglou’s men, unable to nab a lead in their tie with Eintracht Frankfurt but still grateful for Pedro Porro’s little bit of brilliance.
Here’s what Ange had to say: “I’m resigned to the fact that the football Gods have got their eyes elsewhere this year – they’re obviously busy with other clubs and other managers so whatever we get we’re going to have to do it without them.”
Right, over to Taha Hashim to steer you through the next few hours. Salah reaction, Europa League fallout and press conference news, he’s all over it. Enjoy.
Let’s pivot away from Salah and Liverpool for a moment to take in some reaction from last night. Ruben Amorim defended André Onana after his costly errors in Manchester United’s (still quite creditable) 2-2 draw at Lyon.
But then, Amorim has to defend Onana, doesn’t he?
Slot has spoken a lot more about Liverpool’s form in general, as they look to bounce back from a rare defeat – their first away from home in the league this season – to Fulham last weekend. The Reds host West Ham on Sunday afternoon as they edge closer to the league title. They’re still 11 points clear remember.
Closest rivals Arsenal host Brentford in the Saturday teatime game, where they can reduce the gap to eight points to provide a semblance of jeopardy in the non-title race. Slot said the Gunners could have won 5-0 or 6-0 against Real Madrid in midweek, so he was obviously impressed with Mikel Arteta’s men.
What makes Salah so special?
Slot says: “He’s always judged as a player, but I also see him as a humble human being who wants to put a lot of effort into the player he’s become. What makes him special on the pitch is that he can score goals, even if he’s not in the best half hour or best 30 minutes. He’s mentally strong and you need that to be at the highest level for seven, eight years. That’s probably what stands out.”
On the influence Slot himself had on Salah staying: “I’m part of that process but I don’t deserve the compliments. Firstly it’s Mo and his agent. Then it’s the club, Michael Edwards and Richard putting in the effort, and effort also means money!”
Slot says he has a more “boring answer” to questions about Van Dijk’s contract and cannot confirm whether the Dutchman is close to agreeing a new deal of his own.
He said it all with a glint in his eye, mind you. “I don’t read everything that you do,” he tells a journalist.
Slot admits Salah deal is relief for fans
Arne Slot is speaking to the media right now.
Reaction to Salah’s new deal: “Happy of course. He’s shown for so many years how much value he has for the team. I assume all the fans and his teammates are very happy that he extended for two more years. Hopefully on Sunday he can show again how important he is for us.”
Relief that he’s signed? “For the fans I think it is. I knew his contract situation over the course of the season. I knew things were heading in the right direction. It’s a compliment for Richard [Hughes] that he [Salah] signed as he could probably go to any club in the world as a free agent.”
Next up on Liverpool’s priority list? Sorting a deal for Salah’s long-time teammate, VVD. It sounds like it’s definitely in the pipeline in yet another boost for Slot and Reds’ supporters.
You wonder if Salah has Ian Rush and Roger Hunt in his sights. They are the only two players to have scored more goals for Liverpool than the Egyptian.
Salah is currently on 243 goals, with Hunt on 285 (catchable) and Rush way ahead on a mammoth 346. Yeah, you wouldn’t think the Welshman’s record is in trouble if Salah only sticks around for two more years.
Still, it’s been a remarkable effort since he arrived at Anfield from Roma in 2017 as a fairly unreliable winger with a modest goal tally.
Salah reacts to signing Liverpool deal
Here’s what Mo Salah told Liverpool’s website upon signing the new deal.
“Of course I’m very excited. We have a great team now. Before also we had a great team. But I signed because I think we have a chance to win other trophies and enjoy my football.
“It’s great, I had my best years here. I played eight years, hopefully it’s going to be 10. Enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I had the best years in my career.
“I would like to say to [the fans], I am very, very happy to be here. I signed here because I believe we can win a lot of big trophies together. Keep supporting us and we’ll give it our best, and hopefully in the future we’re going to win more trophies.”
Preamble
Good morning all. Well it seems Mohamed Salah and Liverpool have saved André Onana. Salah will at least take up much of the headline space that might have otherwise been reserved for the hapless Manchester United goalkeeper after he cost them what would have been an impressive win in Lyon last night.
It’s obviously huge news for the Reds that Salah is staying until 2027, two more years to take him to the age of 34 at Anfield in which Arne Slot will hope to establish a title-winning dynasty. And with Trent Alexander-Arnold surely bound for Real Madrid, it’s only Virgil van Dijk of the ‘big three’ whose future needs sorting now.
Slot will be facing the media very soon at Liverpool’s pre-West Ham press conference, so we’ll bring you the latest from that, as well as all the Europa League and Conference League fallout from last night. Stick with us.
