Mohamed Salah Praised for Questioning Liverpool’s Sixth Substitution
Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA official Keith Hackett has commended Mohamed Salah for his quick thinking during Liverpool’s 3-1 comeback win over Southampton on Saturday. The Egyptian forward raised concerns when he noticed Jarell Quansah preparing to come on as Liverpool’s sixth substitute late in the game.
Under normal circumstances, teams are only allowed to make five substitutions per match. This led to worries among Liverpool fans—and Salah himself—that the club could face a points deduction for breaking the rules. By that stage, Harvey Elliott, Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, Diogo Jota, and Wataru Endo had all already been subbed on.
However, Liverpool was permitted an additional substitution due to Jan Bednarek’s first-half concussion, which resulted from a collision with his Southampton teammate Ryan Manning. Although no rule was broken, Salah is now being praised not just for his goal-scoring prowess but also for his awareness of the game’s regulations.
Former PGMOL Chief Explains How Mistakes Can Happen
Referee Lewis Smith had to reassure Salah that the substitution was allowed, and Hackett has since supported Salah’s initial concern, noting how easily such errors could occur.
Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett explained: “It could easily happen, which is why the fourth official plays a key role in preventing it.”
He continued: “Before kick-off, both teams receive an equal number of substitution cards. When a substitution is made, a completed form is given to the fourth official, who verifies the player’s name and number against the team sheet submitted an hour before the match.”
“Concussion substitutes are also recorded and reported to the Premier League office. It’s great that Salah was alert to a potential issue and received the correct explanation.”
What’s Next for Liverpool and Southampton?
Liverpool now turns their focus to their Champions League Round of 16 second-leg clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Southampton remains at the bottom of the Premier League table as they prepare to face Wolves next Saturday.
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