Why Arne Slot was left 'shocked' at dramatic finale as Mohamed Salah penalty snatches Liverpool win over Burnley
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Updated 14/09/2025 at 20:14 GMT+1
Mohamed Salah's 95th-minute penalty was the difference at Turf Moor as Liverpool snatched a dramatic win over Burnley. The Egyptian is now fourth on the Premier League's all-time top scorers' list, but Arne Slot was still unhappy as his forward stepped up to take the pressure spot-kick. Slot also suggested that record-signing Alexander Isak could make his Liverpool debut against Atletico Madrid.
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Arne Slot was left shocked at the end of Liverpool's dramatic 1-0 win over Burnley, as Mohamed Salah scored a 95th-minute penalty to maintain his side's 100% win record.
The Reds took 27 shots in their victory at Turf Moor, with Salah's effort the only one to beat Martin Dubravka after substitute Hannibal Mejbri was penalised for handball.
The Egyptian's late winner took him above Andy Cole into fourth on the Premier League's all-time top scorers' list, having netted 188 goals in 305 appearances.
But even as he stepped up to take the pressure spot-kick, Slot was still in disbelief over the amount of time added on at the end of the game.
"I settled really bad because after 90 minutes when I saw how much added time there was, I was shocked," Slot told Sky Sports.
"I was still shocked when we got the penalty because five minutes of added time for me was unbelievable. Shocked and then happy Mo [Salah] scored the penalty."
Slot was unhappy that only a minimum of five minutes were added at the end of a second half that saw six breaks in play for substitutions and a red card for Lesley Ugochukwu for a second-bookable offence.
Liverpool enjoyed 81% possession in their win, with Burnley failing to register a shot on target.
Nevertheless, Slot admitted that his side needed "luck" to finally break down their hosts.
"Compliments to Burnley for the way they defended," Slot told BBC Match of the Day. "It was difficult for us to find an opening and a few times we were close. If we had scored the game may have been open but because we didn't, they did the same thing.
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"We had to wait until the end phase of the second half and in the final stages we got what we were hoping for.
"There is a chance it will fall in the way you want, but it was difficult because they had players behind the ball. We needed a moment of luck, or a moment of magic.
"We didn't have the magic but we had the luck. You are hoping and trying to make it more difficult but they were strong."
Burnley manager Scott Parker was also impressed with the way his team defended, calling the climax to the match "heartbreaking".
And while the English head coach conceded that the penalty was correct by the laws of the game, he expressed frustration that defenders must now learn to defend with their "hands behind the back".
"The game ends in a real heartbreaking way for us. It is what it is," said Parker.
"It is handball. In the law of it it is handball. We will have to change in the technique of defending things with hands behind the back. But I'm really proud of the team.
"I have been in the arena; I know how quick things move. His body action was turning and his arm has gone out. The ball is probably coming at 80mph and it has hit it.
"The only learning for Hannibal is that we will have to train with hands behind the back."
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'A hard decision for Slot' - Antonio on Liverpool's Isak-Ekitike dilemma
Video credit: TNT Sports
Isak set for Liverpool debut against Atletico
Absent from the Liverpool squad on Sunday was record-signing Alexander Isak, who joined up with his new team-mates after international duty with Sweden.
Despite playing 19 minutes in his country's 2-0 loss to Kosovo, Slot argued that his new striker still needs more time on the training ground having missed a summer of pre-season.
But the Dutch manager suggested that Isak could get minutes in Liverpool's opening UEFA Champions League fixture at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, shown live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
"You make a choice for a good reason, for a good argument. That choice was because he missed out for four months on team training," explained Slot.
"He's in his second or third week of pre-season. We have given him a proper week and then we think maybe he will get more than 10 or 15 minutes in our Wednesday game and that's the way to build him up.
"He needs proper playing time but also [we need to] build him up so he has a good base."
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