Michael Owen Admires the “Fitness Levels” of Liverpool Star Who ‘Walks, Walks, Walks’ vs Ipswich

Michael Owen expressed his admiration for the “fitness levels” of Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, despite the fact that the winger spent much of their victory over Ipswich on Saturday “walking.”

Arne Slot made a successful debut as Liverpool’s manager, with second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Salah securing a win for the Dutchman on the opening day of the Premier League season.

During the match, Salah made history by becoming the first Premier League player to score nine goals on opening day fixtures. He also provided an assist for the first goal, further underlining his value to Liverpool as he enters the final year of his contract at Anfield.

Salah has been the subject of intense speculation regarding a move to Saudi Arabia over the past year. It seems increasingly likely that he will leave Liverpool as a free agent at the conclusion of this season.

After the game, Slot mentioned that he expects contributions in terms of goals and assists from all his players this season and hopes that the team will not become overly dependent on Salah.

“I don’t believe that much in one man, I believe in the team more than the individual,” said Slot.

“He can score his goals because of good runs, good assists. I think Mo also needs the team but we also have more creative individuals who can decide the game.”

Former Liverpool striker Owen has admired Salah’s “fitness levels” as the forward made a number of well-time “lung-busting” runs to put the Ipswich defence under pressure.

“No defender wants to be sprinting back into their own half and it’s amazing how many times he did it, yet he still got his timing right and he was still very difficult for the Ipswich defence to be able to pick up,” said Owen.

“His fitness levels today really impressed me. We mentioned the heat before. You look at all the stats and he hasn’t covered as much ground as ‘x, y and z’.

“His runs are lung-busting runs. They take it out of you. He isn’t just buzzing around 60% constantly. He walks, walks, walks, but when he runs, it is so fast and over long distances.

“Playing out wide is a difficult position. Then he is back in again. And as soon as someone gets the ball, he is off again. Again, and again and again. 90th minute, still sprinting at full pelt. His fitness levels. His strength. People talk about his quality of finishing, of course. Absolutely right, but his fitness levels today really impressed me.”

At half-time, Slot made a tactical change, substituting Jarell Quansah with Ibrahima Konate.

Asked about his message to the team and changes at half-time, Slot replied: “First thing was we don’t have to speak about tactics if you don’t lose so many duels.

“Not that Jarell [Quansah] lost every duel – many of us lost too many duels – but I think we needed Konate to win the long balls through the air from their number nine.

“That helped and gave us control. I don’t think Ipswich could keep up with the tempo in the second half.”

In other Liverpool news, Liverpool Sent Double Transfer Message as “Everything is Possible” Claim Made