Liverpool boss also praises “special” Ngumoha for impacting the game
Arne Slot says it was vital for Mohamed Salah to find the net in Liverpool’s FA Cup game against Wolves on Friday.
The Reds beat the Midland club 3-1 in the fifth round of the competition, after decisive goals from Andy Robertson and Salah before the hour mark. Curtis Jones later made it three, Hwang Hee Chan’s stoppage time goal proving nothing but scant consolation.
“It’s always pleasing if we score, but I think it’s also important for attackers to score because if they don’t score over a long time, they’re maybe starting to force it or going to do different things,” Slot said. “So, the more they score, the less they are going to force it and that’s why it’s important for our attackers either to score or be part of the lead-up to a goal.
Defender Robertson has been on the margins for much of the season but showed Liverpool fans a reminder of his quality with a superb goal to break the deadlock in the second half.
Slot said: “Robbo has, in the one-and-a-half years that I’m here, given his everything for the club. I think the fans will tell me that it’s not only one-and-a-half years he did this. He did this for all the years that he’s been here.
“Every time I need him, or the club needs him, he tries to give his best. That’s again what he did tonight, not only scoring and having an assist, but I think he defended well with calm and a lot of composure on the ball.”
Another bright spark was 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who started the game on the left flank and was Liverpool’s best performer on the night.
“I think it’s special if you’re a 17-year-old and you play in a Premier League match,” said Slot. “I know it’s an FA Cup match, but two Premier League sides playing against each other.
“If you’re then able already to impact it with some very good one-v-one situations, that is also what makes him special because there are not many players in the modern football that can take one-v-ones on. That’s something he can.”
