Salah Will Always Score Goals, Says Liverpool Boss Slot

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Manchester, England. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Manchester, England. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
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Salah Will Always Score Goals, Says Liverpool Boss Slot

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Manchester, England. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Manchester, England. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Liverpool manager Arne Slot was not the least bit surprised by the superb performance of Mohamed Salah in their 2-0 Champions League victory over Bologna on Wednesday.

Salah set up Alexis Mac Allister's goal with a pinpoint cross and then bagged his own with a rocket to the top corner for an astounding 49th goal in the Champions League.

It was Salah's third goal in his last three games, which came on the back of a three-game mini drought.

"Before (last week's League Cup win over West Ham United), Mo played three games without scoring a goal. So it is in football, it can happen that sometimes in three games, you score one or you don't score," Slot said, Reuters reported.

"But these players, like Mo, they will always score their goals if you just keep playing them."

The manager would not speculate on Salah's future at the Merseyside club. Salah's contract expires at the end of this season and he has said this will be his last season at Anfield.

"Mo has done really well today, and I'm happy with the way he does at the moment, and I'm not looking forward to next season," Slot said.

The 46-year-old Dutchman, who replaced Juergen Klopp in the close season, has become the team's first manager to win eight of their first nine games across all competitions.

His team have won their opening two in the Champions League to sit fifth in the 36-team table. They also top the Premier League. Slot, however, shrugged off the accolade.

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"I don't draw many conclusions from that, but it's nice. So many incredible managers have worked here, doing so many special things," he said. "The only thing is I hope it is not the only thing people remember me for in two or three years or however long I am here. If all they say is, 'that's the manager who won eight out of nine!'

"I'm hoping to do more special things than just win eight out of my first nine games."

He also praised Klopp for the squad he inherited.

"It also says how I have been left this club -- the work rate the players put in, how the staff are helping me get these results," Slot said.



Former Poland Goalkeeper Szczesny Joins Barcelona after Announcing His Retirement in August

FC Barcelona's President Laporta, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and vice President Rafael Yuste hold Barcelona shirt following Szczesny's signing in Barcelona, Spain, October 2, 2024. (FC Barcelona/Handout via Reuters)
FC Barcelona's President Laporta, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and vice President Rafael Yuste hold Barcelona shirt following Szczesny's signing in Barcelona, Spain, October 2, 2024. (FC Barcelona/Handout via Reuters)
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Former Poland Goalkeeper Szczesny Joins Barcelona after Announcing His Retirement in August

FC Barcelona's President Laporta, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and vice President Rafael Yuste hold Barcelona shirt following Szczesny's signing in Barcelona, Spain, October 2, 2024. (FC Barcelona/Handout via Reuters)
FC Barcelona's President Laporta, goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, and vice President Rafael Yuste hold Barcelona shirt following Szczesny's signing in Barcelona, Spain, October 2, 2024. (FC Barcelona/Handout via Reuters)

Barcelona added former Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to its squad on Wednesday to help make up for the absence of the injured Marc-André ter Stegen.

Szczesny had retired from professional soccer in August after leaving Italian club Juventus, but he said it would be “stupid” not to accept the Barcelona offer.

He said former Poland teammate Robert Lewandowski played a big part in the signing as the Barcelona striker was “probably the very first person that called” to ask Szczesny if there was a possibility of coming out of retirement.

“It took some convincing,” Szczesny said. “At the start I wasn’t sure if I’m ready for new challenges, but then I spoke with my family and I spoke with my friends and everybody told me how stupid I would be if I didn’t accept this. And I agreed with them.”

Barcelona said the 34-year-old Szczesny arrives “in unusual circumstances but there is no doubt that his CV speaks for itself.”

“It's a very proud moment,” Szczesny said. “I was honestly ready for retirement and I was happy there. I wouldn't do this for anybody else. It's exciting, it's a challenge for me, and it's a challenge that I face with a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm. I'm ready for it.”

Barcelona said it had reached a deal for Szczesny to stay until the end of the season.

Ter Stegen, one of the team's captains, had surgery after rupturing a tendon in his right knee in a Spanish league game and is expected to be sidelined for several months.

Iñaki Peña has been Barcelona’s starter in goal since Ter Stegen got injured last month. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has backed the 25-year-old Peña but said the club would look to add an experienced goalkeeper to the squad.

Szczesny attended Barcelona's 5-0 win over Young Boys in the Champions League on Tuesday, watching the match from a VIP section at the Montjuic stadium.

Szczesny, who also starred for Arsenal, made 84 appearances for Poland, including at this year's European Championship. He featured in two World Cups and four Euros.