Liverpool’s Champions League progress continued in emphatic fashion as Mohamed Salah marked his return from the Africa Cup of Nations by playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 victory over Olympique de Marseille, drawing warm praise from head coach Arne Slot.
The Egyptian forward had not featured for the Reds since November, when he last appeared against PSV, and his immediate reintegration into the starting line-up had been the subject of close scrutiny ahead of the match.
Slot, however, showed no hesitation, handing Salah a starting role and watching him come through the contest without difficulty as Liverpool delivered a dominant performance.
Speaking after the win, the Dutch coach highlighted Salah’s readiness and attitude following his international duties with Egypt.
“The fact that after a month spent on another team, he is in top form to play 90 minutes from the start says a lot about his professionalism,” Slot said during his post-match press conference.
Salah’s return added sharpness and experience to Liverpool’s attack, even though the forward did not add to his goal tally on the night.
He went close on several occasions, remaining a constant threat to the Marseille defence as the hosts controlled large spells of the game and built a comfortable lead.
Slot was quick to downplay the significance of Salah not finding the net, placing the emphasis firmly on the team’s collective output.
“Mo was very close to scoring. He didn’t manage it, but tonight it doesn’t matter because we scored three goals,” he said, underlining his satisfaction with the overall performance rather than individual statistics.
The victory strengthens Liverpool’s position in the Champions League group stage, with qualification for the next phase all but assured.
Slot’s side are now well placed to finish inside the top eight, easing pressure ahead of their final group fixture.
That concluding match will see Liverpool face Qarabag next week, with the Reds expected to approach the game with confidence after this commanding display.
Salah’s seamless return from international duty offers further encouragement, suggesting that the disruption caused by the Africa Cup of Nations has had little lasting impact on his sharpness or physical condition.
As Liverpool look ahead to the latter stages of the competition, Slot’s comments reflect a broader sense of calm around his key forward.
For Salah, the focus remains on contributing to victories rather than personal milestones, a mindset his manager was keen to emphasise on a night when Liverpool’s European ambitions took another decisive step forward.
