Mohamed Salah says he is enjoying every second of playing for Liverpool and hinted he is treating each game like it is his last — even though he is keen to extend his contract beyond this season.
The Egyptian shocked the football world last week when he publicly called out the club for a lack of progress on offering him a new deal — his current one expires at the end of the season — but scored and assisted another goal in the 2-0 win over Manchester City.
And Salah said he is just making the most of his ‘home’ at Anfield.
‘It’s very special,’ said the 32-year-old. ‘I said before, I don’t take it for granted. I’m enjoying every minute here. It feels like home. So, yeah, it’s a special feeling. It always is to score at Anfield and win games.
‘Of course, honestly, in my head, it was like this is my problem, until now, the last City game I play for Liverpool, so I’m just gonna enjoy it.
‘The atmosphere was incredible, so I’m enjoying every second here. And yeah, finally we just (hopefully) win the league and see what will happen.’
+7
View gallery
Mohamed Salah has suggested he will never play against Man City at Anfield again
+7
View gallery
The Egyptian completed Liverpool’s comfortable win over City with a composed penalty
+7
View gallery
Salah gave a bombshell interview after inspiring Liverpool on Sunday versus Southampton
Meanwhile, Reds manager Arne Slot said he does not feel sorry for Pep Guardiola after he inflicted a sixth defeat in the last seven games on City to leave them a staggering 11 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool.
The City boss was taunted by home fans and showed physical scars last week after a bruising period — but Slot has backed Guardiola and City to rise again.
‘You feel sympathy or empathy with the managers in a really bad place, those who have lost many games or are down at the bottom of the league,’ said Slot.
‘But Pep has won so many things and shown himself so many times already.
‘The league is not decided in November or December so no one has to feel sympathy or empathy for Pep, he has won so many things and will be able to bring City back.’
The Reds travel to Newcastle on Wednesday and must overcome an injury crisis in their defence, with Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas all out.
All three are facing a battle to be fit before Christmas.
He told Sky Sports: ‘That was in my head, that, until now, this is possibly the last City game that I play for Liverpool so I’m going to enjoy it.
+7
View gallery
Cody Gakpo slotted home the opener, getting on the end of a wonderful cross from Salah
+7
View gallery
Pep Guardiola has now gone seven matches without winning for the first time in his career
+7
View gallery
City looked like they were still reeling after a Champions League capitulation against Feyenoord
‘The atmosphere was incredible so I’m going to enjoy every second here and if we just win the league and see what will happen.’
Salah also explained the importance of the atmosphere at Anfield, which was on top form this afternoon as the home side moved 11 points clear of last year’s champions.
‘[Anfield] is very special,’ he said. ‘I said before that I don’t take it for granted.
‘I’m enjoying every minute here and it feels like home so it’s a special feeling always scoring at Anfield and winning games.’
Sunday’s serene victory condemned Pep Guardiola to a first seven-match winless streak in his managerial career.
The home side dominated the opening period at Anfield against a City outfit which still looked shell-shocked following their midweek capitulation against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
And Liverpool‘s superiority paid off within 12 minutes as Gakpo turned home a brilliant Salah cross to send Reds fans into ruptures.