“He’s a human” – Arne Slot protects Mohamed Sara after missing out on Liverpool’s chances of defeat at Chelsea

But it could have been a different story for the champion, as the champion was more prolific in front of the goal.

Salah was given the perfect opportunity for the opening minute of the second half following a creative flick from Florian Wiltz, but after cutting from the right, he fired a wide one from the nearby post after two efforts from the target in the second half.

Asked about Sarah’s selfish shooting, slot defended the player and questioned whether it was the result of an exclusion from the starting lineup with Liverpool’s Galatasaray mid-week.

The Liverpool boss said, “It’s funny. He didn’t play in the week so he made so much today? Or if he played Galatasaray, he missed the chance because he missed a bit of sharpness that he had? We never know.”

Slot added:

“Today he had many opportunities to do what he often did, but he’s a human. Every opportunity he gets isn’t always a goal.”

Sarah has scored three times in 10 appearances in all competitions this season and has no goals in his final four games.

He won the net twice this time in the Premier League.

After last year’s incredibly fruitful campaign, he scored 34 goals in all competitions and netted 29 times in the league for the title.

It was the second time Sarah started with Liverpool’s record summer signature, Alexander Isaac.

Isaac’s only Liverpool goal so far came in the Carabao Cup against Southampton when Sarah was not on the team, but the Egyptians haven’t scored in the Premier League when the former Newcastle United man was on the pitch.

The two mostly combined goals during the opening period with Chelsea after Isaac continued his exquisite cross from the winger using the outside of the foot.

Slot believes the two need time to play together to establish a stronger connection, and they have had issues with Stamford Bridge, particularly during the opening period during team build-up.

He said: “The more they play together, the more they connect, and I think that’s what you saw in the second half.

“When Ryan (Greign Burch) started playing in that position, we were able to get the attackers in situations that were much more promising than in the first half.

“For me, it wasn’t a disconnect, I think we mostly had to do better build-ups in the first half, and that’s what we did more and more in the second half.

“That’s why we created so many good moments, opportunities, moments.