Liverpool vs Newcastle: Arne Slot hails ‘special’ Mo Salah in pulsating six-goal thriller

Liverpool coach Arne Slot hailed the performance of striker Mohamed Salah who scored a brace in his side’s 3-3 Premier League draw with Newcastle United, at St James’ Park, on Wednesday evening.

With Liverpool trailing 2-1 after Anthony Gordon put the hosts ahead just on the hour mark, Salah burst to life with two goals in 15 minutes to put The Reds 3-2 up.

Though Newcastle had the final say with a Fabian Schar strike to salvage a draw, it was a clash in which Liverpool led for just seven of the 90 minutes.

It seemed like the table-topping Liverpool were destined for just their second loss of their campaign before Salah intervened.

Salah's future at Liverpool hangs in the balance

In fact, there has been plenty of speculation over the future of Salah with the player himself saying last month he felt like he was ‘more out than in’ at Liverpool with no new offer on the table in the final year of his contract.

Slot, meanwhile, sang the praises of Salah without giving much insight into his future at the club.

"It's difficult for me to predict the long-term future, but the only thing I can expect or predict is that he is in a very good place at the moment," said Slot.

"He plays in a very good team that provides him with good opportunities and then he is able to do special things.

"And what makes him for me even more special is that in the first hour or before we scored to make it 1-1, you thought, 'He's not playing his best game today’.

"Then to come up with a half-hour or 45 minutes with an assist, two goals, having a shot on the bar, being a constant threat, that is something not many players can do if they've played the first hour like he did.

"That is also what makes him special. If you just look at the goals, his finish is so clinical. He's a special player, but that's what we all know."

@Golfhackno1

IOL Sport