Mohamed Salah has declared that playing on the right of a 4-3-3 is his favourite position after Jurgen Klopp reverted back to his famous system for Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Napoli in the Champions League.
After a tedious contest at Anfield, the Egyptian fired the Reds' first goal of the game five minutes from time after he was first to capitalise on Alex Meret fumbling Darwin Nunez's header from close range. The strike ensured Salah went level with Anfield icon Steven Gerrard as the club's all-time leading scorer in European football, with a tally of 41 strikes.
Substitute Nunez was on hand to extinguish any hopes of late revival from Luciano Spalletti's side as he played the role of a poacher in the eighth minute of stoppage time, converting Virgil van Dijk's palmed effort from inside the box.
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With Liverpool needing to win by at least a four-goal margin to leapfrog the Serie A leaders in the Group A standings, Klopp rung the changes in his 400th game in charge of the club and defaulted back to his trademark system after weeks of tinkering with a diamond formation.
It was a change that seemed to get the best out of Salah, with the Egyptian enjoying some fine link-up with Curtis Jones and Roberto Firmino, who joined him in a forward trio.
"It’s not my job. it’s the gaffer's job," joked Salah when quizzed on his positioning for the group stage finale, per BT Sport. "Any position makes me comfortable, I’m happy about it. I played that position (on the right) (for) five or six years, I have to say that’s the best for me. But, the manager decides the tactics, as the player you have to follow the leader."
It was Liverpool's first outing since being stunned by Leeds United on Saturday evening as Crysencio Summerville dethroned the Reds' 29-game unbeaten run at Anfield, stretching back to March 2021. However, Salah is hoping by achieving the impressive accomplishment of becoming the first team to defeat Napoli this season Liverpool can take confidence into their Premier League campaign, starting with their visit to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.
“To win against one of the best teams in the world, one of the best coaches in the world, it’s always a good feeling," added Salah.
“But we just need to carry on. It’s a good result for us. Hopefully, it’ll give us more confidence. We just need to focus now in the cup and the league and carry on.”
Despite the victory, Klopp's men were unable to secure the top spot in Group A and will therefore advance to the knockout stages as an unseeded side. As it stands, they will be eligible to face Bayern Munich, FC Porto, Real Madrid or RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica.
The draw for the round of 16 will take place on November 7, with ties being played in February and March.
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