Arne Slot praises 'special' Mohamed Salah performance as Liverpool star nets vs Brighton

The Liverpool winger was on target as the Reds progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup, and put in an all-round excellent display that also included an assist and winning a penalty

Arne Slot spoke after Liverpool's FA Cup success over Brighton

Arne Slot praised Mohamed Salah’s performance as he found the back of the net in Liverpool’s FA Cup triumph over Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

The Reds booked their place in the fifth round courtesy of a 3-0 victory at Anfield, with Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Salah on target. For the latter, this was his first goal in domestic competitions since Nov. 1, while for only the third time in his Liverpool career, Salah managed to score, provide an assist and win a penalty in the same game.

But Slot was also pleased with the winger’s work out of possession, with his more team-orientated display in stark contrast to his performances before the Africa Cup of Nations pause.

“He not only had a goal, he also had an assist with his right foot,” Slot told TNT Sports after the game. “So that's probably even special for him, I'm not sure, but the next step is scoring with his right. Maybe he did this a lot as well, I don't know.

“I think it's nice to see him on the scoreboard again, but, he's been also influential in his assist in the last few games,” added the Liverpool head coach.

“What I see, what has been a very positive and help for the team is that he also does a lot off the ball. And that's what he did against [Manchester] City. That's what we did against Sunderland. And that is what he ended tonight.”

Salah got on the scoresheet himself after setting up Szoboszlai

Asked for his verdict on the game, Slot replied: “What impressed me most I think maybe the goals, especially the second one was fantastic.

“The margins were maybe smaller than the 3-0 looks like because at 1-0 just before half-time they got a big chance, but that felt good for us, or I should say great save from Ali [Alisson].

“Second half, two good goals and in the end it feels like a comfortable win, but I think it was closer than the final score on the show.”

Slot was delighted with the performance against Brighton(Image: Getty Images)

The win capped a good week for Liverpool, with the Reds’ chances of collecting silverware improved, while they also closed the gap on the Champions League places after a 1-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland on Wednesday.

Coming toward the end of what has been a challenging campaign, Slot said he can see clear progression from his side.

“I think it's fair for me to say that this team has made a proper development throughout the last few months. It has happened quite a lot of times to us that three days or two days after a game we struggled to bring the same intensity, but that is now of a far better level for us.

“Players have adjusted, the team is playing better and better because we are fitter and fitter, and let's see where that will lead to.

“But as I said, the margins are small. But now the margins are small - in the beginning of the season, it didn't always feel like this. It didn't always feel that we were completely ready to compete in terms of intensity after three days. We kept on playing the same players that were not all adjusted yet. But now they are, and now you can see.”