Mohamed Salah’s Exceptional Form Under Arne Slot

Last week, Arne Slot conveyed to reporters that there was “no reason to think [Mohamed Salah] is dropping in terms of level,” drawing parallels to the sustained careers of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. As if validating his manager’s assessment, Salah contributed two assists in the subsequent 4-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. He then delivered a dynamic performance in Saturday’s 2-0 triumph against Aston Villa, scoring and assisting to establish a five-point lead for the Reds at the top of the Premier League. Far from declining, the 32-year-old player appears to be accelerating his performance. Following Saturday’s match, Salah’s season tally reached 10 goals and 10 assists across all competitions, with eight goals and six assists specifically in the Premier League. His current goal contribution rate in the league stands at 1.31 per 90 minutes, marking the highest of his entire career and surpassing his record-setting debut Liverpool season in 2017-18, which was 1.30. The Egypt international displays notable sharpness and directness under Slot’s management. His progressive carries per 90 minutes, at 3.64, represent his highest figure since the 2021-22 season and his second highest since joining an English club. Furthermore, his carries into the penalty area per 90 minutes, at 3.36, are the highest he has achieved in the Premier League. This season, he is also achieving greater success when dribbling past opponents, with 1.68 successful take-ons per 90 minutes, his highest since 2021-22, and a 51.4% success rate for take-ons, his highest since 2019-20. His clinical finishing also seems to be improving, as 58.1% of his shots in the Premier League have been on target, a career-high. Discussions regarding Salah’s contract are expected to persist until a decision about his future is reached, but his outstanding form and Slot’s promising start are clearly interconnected. Should he maintain a similar level of output into his late 30s, comparable to that of Messi and Ronaldo, it is highly probable that the leadership at Anfield will prioritize extending his contract. This is particularly pertinent now that he has demonstrated his ability to excel—and potentially even enhance his performance—in the era following Jurgen Klopp. *All stats provided by Opta