Slot admits Liverpool missed Salah after winning return from AFCON duty

Arne Slot admitted Liverpool have missed Mohamed Salah in recent weeks, after the Reds beat Marseille 3-0 on the Egyptian's return from international duty.

Salah has been away with his national team since December 13, scoring four goals in six matches at the Africa Cup of Nations as the Pharaohs finished fourth.

And prior to departing for that tournament, Salah had a stint on the sidelines that looked like it might spell the end of his time at Anfield.

Having been benched for three straight games at the start of December, Salah publicly criticised Slot and was dropped entirely for a 1-0 Champions League victory at Inter.

But after apologising to his team-mates and holding clear-the-air talks with his head coach, Salah is back in the fold – much to Slot's relief.

"In the moments when I didn't play him, I was trying something different," Slot said after Wednesday's win, which saw Salah play the full 90 minutes.

"We have missed goals from all our ball possession. If there's one player in the history of Liverpool who can score goals, it's Mo Salah.

"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 fit enough 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."

Salah failed to get on the scoresheet despite accumulating a higher expected goals (xG) tally than any other player on the pitch (0.55).

But he still looked lively throughout on what was his 88th appearance for Liverpool in major European competitions.

Only Jamie Carragher (130) and Steven Gerrard (111) have made more for the club, with Salah's tally matched by Ian Callaghan.

The 33-year-old can assume third place outright next week, when Liverpool host Qarabag – a victory will ensure the Reds finish inside the top eight and advance straight to the last 16.

But first, Liverpool head to Bournemouth on Saturday in the Premier League.

The Reds have drawn their last four Premier League games, and were booed off by some of their fans after failing to beat Burnley last week.

That run has seen Liverpool offer up ground to the chasing pack in the hunt for Champions League qualification. The Cherries, meanwhile, drew against Brighton last time out.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bournemouth - Marcus Tavernier

Tavernier scored his fifth Premier League goal of the season against Brighton, equalling his best goalscoring return in a single campaign (five in 2022-23).

He is looking to either score or assist a goal in three consecutive appearances for the first time since November 2022.

Liverpool - Florian Wirtz

Wirtz put Liverpool ahead against Burnley, only for Marcus Edwards to equalise for the Clarets.

The Germany playmaker has either scored (three) or assisted (one) a goal in four of his last six Premier League appearances, with these goal involvements being worth six points to Liverpool.