Slot hails fans support…

LIVERPOOL, England — Arne Slot hailed Liverpool’s 4-0 victory against Galatasaray as “almost the perfect game” and commended Anfield’s fans for creating an extraordinary atmosphere.

The Reds rebounded from a 1-0 first-leg defeat in their round-of-16 encounter with a commanding display against the Turkish Super Lig champions, scoring through Dominik Szoboszlai, Hugo Ekitike, Ryan Gravenberch, and Mohamed Salah, which secured their place in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League.

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The atmosphere on Merseyside was electric as Liverpool fans vocally supported their team, even after expressing their discontent during a recent 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

“From beginning to end, I believe we played the match I hoped for, as did the players,” Slot remarked. “We not only delivered a perfect game, but our fans did too.”

“From the start, they were not going to allow what we anticipated—to let the energy wane in the stadium by minimizing the playing time,” Slot continued. “Our fans reacted fantastically, and our players kept pushing forward. There was a wonderful synergy between the fans and the players, making it nearly a perfect game for us, and definitely for our supporters.”

Slot also praised Salah, who rebounded from missing a penalty earlier in the match to net his 50th Champions League goal, becoming the first African player to reach this milestone.

“It speaks volumes about his character,” Slot noted. “To miss a penalty just before halftime can be tough for an individual or a team, so I commend the entire squad for how we emerged in the second half. This season has brought numerous challenges, with many occasions where we created chances without scoring.

“But Mo and the team returned in the second half with great energy. He assisted Hugo brilliantly and then scored a typical goal, cutting inside and finding the corner, a familiar sight at this stadium for him and this club. This highlights his mental fortitude and that of the team as well, considering the adversities we have faced this season.”

Salah was substituted in the 74th minute for Cody Gakpo, receiving a warm standing ovation from Anfield.

“In terms of his injury, he was taken off not because of a goal count but because he felt something,” Slot explained. “We’ll see how he is for the weekend and beyond.”