Arne Slot hopes to enjoy Mohamed Salah’s talents for as long as possible after the forward scored one and set up another two goals in Liverpool’s 3-0 win away to Manchester United.
Salah, who is in the final year of his Liverpool contract, has three goals and three assists from three Premier League matches after he twice assisted Luis Diaz in the first half before scoring for the 15th time in 16 games against United.
Yet, the Egyptian said after another impressive performance that he treated the game as if it was his last appearance at Old Trafford.
“I had a good summer, a long time to stay with myself and think positively a bit,” he told Sky Sports. “This is my last year with the club and I want to enjoy it, Salah said. “I feel I am free to play football – we will see what happens next year.
“I was coming to the game, I was saying ‘Look, it could be the last time’. Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts so I was just like, ‘Ok, I play my last season and see at the end of the season’.”
When asked about Salah’s comments, Slot said: “It’s a lot of ‘if’. At this moment he is one of ours and I am really happy with him being one of ours and he played really well. I don’t talk about contracts from players but I can take for hours about how Mo played today.”
Slot spoke after his team had secured a third win out of three at the start of the campaign and, in turn, the Dutchman became the first Liverpool head coach since Bob Paisley in 1975 to win his first competitive match against United.
Trent Alexander-Arnold saw an early goal ruled out for offside but Diaz’s brace before half time and Salah’s goal, which was his seventh in successive games against United, were just rewards for Liverpool who were a cut above their opponents and also secured a third clean sheet in as many games.
“Everything what you want to see as a manager you saw in this game,” Slot added. “There were difficult moments for us, United started really well but then we have a disallowed goal and there was no negative reaction.
“We kept playing, scoring three, we could have scored more, two important saves from Alisson and the work rate was incredible without the ball and that makes it a very positive day.”
'We have to build a new team'
Yet, Erik ten Hag was left to pick up the pieces after a shoddy performance from his team in which he hooked under-fire midfielder Casemiro at half time after he had been lacklustre in possession.
Ten Hag, who suffered his first loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford, said that it will take time to bed in the club’s new signings after centre back Matthijs de Ligt and striker Joshua Zirkzee started their first games for United.
“It is just the third game in the season, we have to build a new team,” Ten Hag said. “I explained this so many times, we will build this new team, we have young players and players to build in.
“It is clear we have to improve but at the end of the season I am confident we will have a big chance to lift another trophy.”
However, United were guilty of losing possession, allowed Liverpool too much space to operate in midfield and were easily dispossessed for each of the visitors three goals either side of half time.
When asked if the same mistakes are being made as last season, Ten Hag said: “I don’t think so. Otherwise you wouldn’t win trophies as we would or beat big opponents. I am sorry for you. I have another vision…I think we won after [Manchester] City the most trophies in English football so I am sorry for you.”
Casemiro was guilty of being dispossessed for both of Diaz’s first-half goals and was replaced at half-time by Toby Collyer. Manuel Ugarte, United’s new signing from Paris Saint-Germain, was introduced to the home supporters before the game and will be needed sooner rather than later.
“We have to build him in the team, it will take time,” Ten Hag said of Ugarte. “It is not like I’m Harry Potter, that is what you have to acknowledge. If you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn’t play so far in the season, not one match minute.
“We have to build his fitness, we will have to build him into the team, and then I am sure he will be an important player.”
