LIVERPOOL, England – Liverpool manager Arne Slot has publicly backed forward Mohamed Salah to rediscover his scoring touch, despite a recent drought that has stretched over nine Premier League matches. The Egyptian international, typically a prolific goalscorer, hasn’t found the back of the net in the league since early November, raising questions about his current form. Still, Slot remains confident that Salah will return to his best, stating, “He always scores in the end.”
The prolonged scoreless streak represents Salah’s longest spell without a Premier League goal since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017. This dip in form has naturally drawn scrutiny, but Slot believes the high standards Salah sets for himself are the root cause of the surprise. “He set his own standards and those are so, so, so high and the moment he doesn’t score for a few games people are immediately surprised – that is the biggest compliment he can get,” Slot explained.
Slot also addressed the use of data in evaluating Salah’s performance, acknowledging its potential for both positive and negative interpretations. He pointed out the complexities of comparing performances across different competitions, specifically mentioning the FA Cup. “With data you can use it to your advantage or disadvantage but not to use the FA Cup game — if we play a Premier League side — you could argue if that is fair,” Slot said. “But that’s the way it works: if we want to highlight something really positive we try to forget one or two games and if we want to highlight something negative we can try to forget one or two games as well.”
The Liverpool manager highlighted Salah’s recent contributions beyond goalscoring, referencing an assist and a goal in a match against Brighton. “Three games ago he had an assist and a goal against a particularly good Premier League team Brighton, so that is the reality, and then you can change data and say he did not score in nine Premier League games,” Slot noted. He emphasized that the expectation surrounding Salah is exceptionally high, leading to increased attention when he experiences a temporary dip in form.
Slot isn’t solely focused on Salah’s individual performance. He also believes that Liverpool’s other forwards need to step up and contribute more goals. This acknowledgement suggests a broader team effort is required to alleviate the pressure on Salah and ensure a consistent flow of goals. The manager’s comments underscore the importance of collective responsibility within the attacking line.
While the focus has been on the Premier League drought, it’s worth noting Salah has found the net in other competitions recently, including the Champions League and the FA Cup. This demonstrates he hasn’t entirely lost his scoring ability, but rather is facing a challenging period in the league. The ability to perform in different contexts suggests the issue may be situational rather than a fundamental decline in his skills.
The situation surrounding Salah also comes amid reports suggesting he could be subject to offers from clubs in Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer. Goal.com reported that Salah is “increasingly likely” to leave Liverpool if clubs from those leagues meet certain conditions. However, Slot’s continued support suggests the club remains committed to keeping their star forward.
Liverpool will need Salah firing on all cylinders as they push for success on multiple fronts. The team is still competing in the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup, and Salah’s goals will be crucial to their chances of lifting trophies. The upcoming matches will be a key test of his ability to overcome this recent slump and rediscover his prolific form.
Mohamed Salah is expected to start in Saturday’s Premier League match against West Ham United, providing him with another opportunity to break his scoring drought. The match at Anfield will be a significant test for both Salah and the team as they look to maintain their momentum in the league. Fans will be hoping to see the Egyptian international back on the scoresheet and silencing any doubts about his current form.
As Slot stated, Liverpool is accustomed to seeing Salah score regularly, and the current situation is a temporary deviation from the norm. The manager’s unwavering belief in his player, coupled with Salah’s own determination, suggests that a return to goalscoring form is inevitable. The challenge now is to ensure that happens as quickly as possible to maximize Liverpool’s chances of success this season.
Next up for Liverpool is their Premier League clash against West Ham United on Saturday, February 28th. Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 PM GMT/7:30 AM EST. Stay tuned to Archysport for full coverage of the match and continued updates on Mohamed Salah’s progress.
