Liverpool boss Arne Slot paid tribute to Mohamed Salah after his 250th goal for the club ended the rot with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
The Reds come into the match with their Premier League title defense in tatters after four straight defeats, amid a wider run of six defeats in seven games in all competitions.
But Salah’s breakthrough effort just before half-time, thanks to a howler from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and Ryan Gravenberch’s deflected effort after the break earned Reds’ first league win since September 20.
It was a difficult start to the season for Salah, who was gifted his goal after being presented with an empty net following a rogue pass from Martinez, but he became only the third Reds player to score 250 for the club, following in the footsteps of Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.
“That’s almost unbelievable. If you score 250 goals, that’s already unbelievable, let alone for one club,” said Slot.
“You don’t see that much in football anymore.
“And I think, apart from the goal he scored tonight, he put in a very good performance.
“What I also liked is that he not only did his offensive work very well, but that he also helped the team defensively.
“This combination of things led me to like his performance tonight.
“And of course it is special for him to score his 250th. The fact that he scores is not that special, because we all know he always will.”
The support from Anfield meant a lot to Slot
The Dutchman, faced with the first questions of his Anfield reign, received unequivocal support from the crowd throughout the match.
“It meant a lot, especially because it happened at 0-0. So not when you’re leading and not when you’re at the top of the league, but when you’re in a difficult situation as a club, as a team, and because I’m part of that, certainly part of it, it’s a difficult situation for me too.”
“And then getting the support that the players received, but also from me, is something that makes this club special.
“I think they don’t forget if you’ve been part of something special, and they help you, especially when it’s hard, and it was.
“Things have been difficult in recent weeks. They felt like the players, and maybe even myself, needed some support, and that’s what you get from these fans.”
“I think you always feel pressure when you play for Liverpool. When you are in the lead with 15 games to go, you feel pressure.”
“And when you’re in the same shape as us, you feel the pressure.
“But I have always felt the support of the fans as long as I have been here, and even with the recent results I have never felt that there was anything less than before.”
Unai Emery regrets “big mistake”
Villa hit the woodwork twice within the first 20 minutes and things could have been different had either of those tries gone in, but their four-match winning run ended partly because of Martinez’s blunder.
Boss Unai Emery said: “We try to play with our personality through our structures and through our rules.
“It was easy for Salah. It was a big mistake, but it was something in our process and my responsibility. I accept it.”
“We are building the team here through the style we want to maintain in our process at the club and our next matches.
“Of course we have to avoid big mistakes like today, but it is part of our process.
“We will analyze and identify how we can build into these conditions for the next matches.
“This makes us feel comfortable and strong with our idea.”
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