Arne Slot was a relieved man after Mohamed Salah’s stoppage-time penalty gave Liverpool a hard-earned 1-0 at Burnley and maintained the Reds’ 100 per cent start to the season.
The Egyptian King made no mistake from the spot in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Jeremie Frimpong’s cross was handled by Hannibal Mejbri.
It was – remarkably – the fourth time in as many Premier League fixtures that Liverpool had scored a winning goal after the 83rd minute.
But Slot admitted a draw would not have been an unfair result after the hosts, reduced to 10 men following Lesley Ugochukwu’s late red card, produced an outstanding backs-to-the-wall defensive display at Turf Moor.
Slot expected a draw
He told reporters: “They almost got a point so I’m not saying anything negative about it but it is difficult to outplay 11 players in their own 18-yard box and a draw was probably expected throughout the game.
“We kept playing, we kept moving the ball around.
“They got more and more tired which is normal when you have to defend for 80 per cent of time and then we got as many attackers on as possible.”
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Isak not involved
Liverpool’s record signing Alexander Isak was not included in the matchday squad after missing out on pre-season due to his dispute with former club Newcastle.
The 24-year-old did feature for 18 minutes of Sweden’s World Cup qualifier in Kosovo last week, but Slot revealed it would be a while before he would be able to play a full part in the Reds’ busy season.
Isak may make his Anfield debut in the Champions League against Atletico on Wednesday night but Slot warned:
“If he plays 45 on Wednesday, don’t expect him to play 45 or more on Saturday (against Everton) as his body is not prepared for that.
“We got him from Newcastle in a state where you could see his pre-season was going to start now, then he needs proper minutes of training before he has a certain base, let alone for him to play twice in three days.”
Robertson eyes starting spot
One player hoping to be involved from the start against Atletico is Andy Robertson, who has lost his starting place this season to new signing Milos Kerkez.
Hungary international Kerkez had an afternoon to forget at Burnley, picking up a needless booking for a dive before being replaced by Robertson before half-time.
And the Reds vice-captain is hoping he has now done enough to keep his place in the starting line-up on Wednesday.
He said: “I do want to play games and be the starting left-back and I have got to keep pushing to try to produce the levels I know I can do.
“The international break was good for me as I was able to get two 90 minutes, get that match fitness and two really good results for Scotland and I took a lot of confidence from that.”
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