Quick thinking Liverpool star Mo Salah spotted intervening amid fear of points deduction over little known rule

A worried Mo Salah appeared to try and intervene in Liverpool’s win over Southampton – over fears they were about to break a Premier League rule that could result in a points deduction.

Salah struck two penalties in the 3-1 win, taking his Premier League goals tally to 27 for the season with 10 games left to play.

After beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions League round of 16 first leg, Arne Slot’s side took another step towards a 20th league title, coming from behind after a poor first half display saw them go in 1-0 down to Will Smallbone’s goal.

The game featured a total of 12 substitutions, with Jarell Quansah the final player to be introduced for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 89th minute.

But it was at this moment where Salah appeared to be panicked and looked like he was trying to stop the substitution from taking place.

He was seen in discussions with referee Lewis Smith and respected Liverpool reporter David Lynch spotted the Egyptian’s frantic behaviour – suggesting he was fearing the club could have points taken off them for a costly oversight.

“Mohamed Salah has just been desperately trying to stop Liverpool making a sixth substitution there so they don’t get docked points,” he wrote.

“Looked like the referee had to explain to him they get an extra one due to the earlier head injury.”

Mo Salah was in conversation with the referee. Image: X@SamueILFC

Premier League rules allow for five substitutions to be made but in line with concussion protocol, both sides are allowed a sixth change.

Early in the first half, Jan Bednarek was forced off with a head injury and the visitors used their concussion sub to bring on Armel Bella-Kotchap in the 19th minute.

That not only gave Southampton an extra sub but enabled Liverpool to make another in the dying embers.

Salah did not appear to be aware of the rule and was concerned that his team were about to make a mistake of epic proportions.

His brace saw him move up to third in Liverpool’s all-time goalscoring charts, as well as move level with Sergio Aguero on 184 goals – putting him joint-fifth in the all-time Premier League list.