City Xtra
·4 December 2024
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Yahoo sportsCity Xtra
·4 December 2024
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has joked that star forward Mohamed Salah may ‘know more about’ Manchester City’s 115 charges of alleged financial rule breaches.
The Egyptian icon was at the centre of Liverpool’s vital Premier League victory over Manchester City on Sunday afternoon that moved the Merseyside club 11 points clear of the reigning top-flight champions.
Cody Gakpo had put the league leaders ahead in the contest early in the first-half at Anfield, connecting with a pinpoint pass from Salah, before the latter would convert from the penalty spot after Luis Diaz was hacked down by Stefan Ortega Moreno in the second-half.
Commenting afterwards, Salah revealed his inspiration behind his outstanding performance against Manchester City, insisting that it had crossed his mind that it could have been his final meeting with Pep Guardiola’s side at Anfield amid an expiring contract on Merseyside.
Speaking during a recent press conference, manager Arne Slot was made aware of comments issued by Salah after Liverpool’s 2-0 win, to which the Anfield coach made references towards Manchester City’s ongoing legal battle.
“Maybe Mo (Salah) knows more about the 115 (charges) so he doesn’t expect them to be in the Premier League next season,” Arne Slot told reporters on Tuesday morning.
The Dutchman continued by immediately clarifying with a laugh, “I do expect them to be in the Premier League. That was a joke! I do repeat, that was a joke.”
Manchester City will welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium for the reverse fixture in late February, by which point Pep Guardiola and his players will be hoping to have cut down the gap that stands between the two clubs in the top-flight at present.
City will be hoping to pick up their form immediately having gone the last seven matches across all competitions without a win, and their last victory in any outing coming over a month ago in a 1-0 success over Southampton thanks to an Erling Haaland strike.
December presents an almighty challenge for Pep Guardiola’s struggling squad as they face away trips to the likes of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, as well as Juventus in the UEFA Champions League, and a home Manchester derby.