“Mo Salah’s Sharp Eye Catches Liverpool’s Unusual 6th Substitution, Earning Widespread Praise”
“Mo Salah’s Classy Reaction to Liverpool’s Rare 6th Substitution vs Southampton Wins Praise”
Keith Hackett has backed Mohamed Salah for questioning a Liverpool substitution during their 3-1 comeback win against Southampton on Saturday afternoon. The former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee praised the Egyptian star for spotting that his team was about to make a sixth substitution, as Jarell Quansah was getting ready to come on in the final minutes.
Under normal circumstances, teams are allowed a maximum of five substitutions. This raised concerns among Liverpool fans—and even the Premier League’s top goalscorer—about the potential consequences, including a possible point deduction, for exceeding the limit. By that point, Liverpool had already brought on Harvey Elliott, Alexis Mac Allister, Andy Robertson, Diogo Jota, and Wataru Endo.
However, Arne Slot’s team was granted an additional substitution due to Jan Bednarek’s first-half concussion following a clash with Southampton’s Ryan Manning. While intervention wasn’t necessary, Salah is earning praise not only for being Liverpool’s primary goal threat but also for his sharp awareness in ensuring the team adhered to the rules.
Mohamed Salah Praised for Spotting Liverpool’s Sixth Substitution Error
A former PGMOL chief has acknowledged that the mistake could have easily gone unnoticed, praising Salah for his awareness.
Referee Lewis Smith had to reassure Salah by explaining why the sixth substitution was permitted (see the post below). Keith Hackett has since praised Salah’s initial concern, emphasizing how easily such mistakes can occur.
When asked by Football Insider whether an extra substitution could be made accidentally, the former referee responded: “It could easily happen, which is why the fourth official plays a crucial role in preventing it.”
The referee had to explain to Mohamed Salah that we were allowed to have a 6th sub due to the concussion protocol, after Mo was trying to prevent it from happening in case we get docked points.
He’s really making sure we win the league. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/xNNnW0k10p
— Samuel (@SamueILFC) March 8, 2025
Hackett went on to explain: “Before kickoff, both teams receive an equal number of substitution cards. When a substitution is made, the completed form is handed to the fourth official, who verifies the name and number against the team sheet provided to the referee an hour before the match.”
He also emphasized the importance of record-keeping for concussion substitutes, stating: “These completed forms are sent to the Premier League office. It’s good that Salah was alert to a potential issue and received the correct clarification.”
Liverpool’s next challenge comes on Tuesday night when they host Paris Saint-Germain for the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. Meanwhile, Southampton remain at the bottom of the Premier League table as they prepare to face Wolves next Saturday.