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Slot hoping Salah can still burnish Liverpool legacy / Photo: Darren Staples - AFP/File
Slot hoping Salah can still burnish Liverpool legacy
Arne Slot is hoping Mohamed Salah's farewell can inspire a strong end to Liverpool's season as he declared the Egyptian a living "legend" at the club.
Salah announced last week he will depart the English champions at the end of the season after nine years and 255 goals to date for the Reds.
The 33-year-old had a public spat with Slot in December, declaring he had "no relationship" with the Dutchman after being dropped for three consecutive games.
But since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations in January, Salah has returned to being a regular starter in a difficult campaign for Liverpool.
Slot's men sit fifth in the Premier League and are in a battle just to qualify for next season's Champions League.
But the former Feyenoord boss is hopeful of still ending the season on a high in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Liverpool travel to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and face holders Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight of Europe's top competition.
"Hopefully he can make his legacy even more special in the upcoming weeks and months where we still play for something special, but he will always leave this club as a legend," Slot told Liverpool's website.
"To show that hunger every three days, that professionalism, that commitment to the club, to the team, wanting to score again, always wanting to play... that is what stands out for me."
Slot's forward options have been hampered by the absence of Alexander Isak for much of his time at the club since arriving for a British transfer record £125 million ($165 million) in September.
The Swedish striker is set to return to training after suffering a broken leg just over three months ago and has been buoyed by seeing his country qualify for the World Cup this week.
"I think Alex is in a really good place because Sweden qualified for the World Cup yesterday evening and apart from that he's going to train with the group again for the first time tomorrow," added Slot on Wednesday.
"Of course it's only his first session, after three or four months, with the team but it's good to have him back because we all know who we signed and we've signed an incredible striker."
C.Albano--INP
