Arne Slot Pinpoints Crucial Shift in Mohamed Salah's Performances Amidst Goal Drought
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has addressed Mohamed Salah's ongoing Premier League goal drought, which now spans nine consecutive matches. Despite this barren run, Slot remains unwavering in his belief that the Egyptian superstar will soon rediscover his prolific scoring touch.
Salah's Unprecedented Scoring Slump
Mohamed Salah has failed to find the net in the Premier League since scoring in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Aston Villa back in November. This nine-game drought represents the longest such period without a league goal since Salah joined the Reds in 2017. The streak has been punctuated by Salah's international commitments with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, yet it marks a significant departure from his usual relentless scoring consistency.
Slot emphasized that the intense scrutiny surrounding Salah's current form is, in itself, the ultimate compliment to the attacker's extraordinary standards. "He set his own standards and those are so, so, so high," Slot remarked. "The moment he doesn't score for a few games, people are immediately surprised—that is the biggest compliment he can get."
The Biggest Difference in Salah's Game
When asked to identify the primary change in Salah's performances during this challenging period, Slot pointed to the obvious lack of goals. "We are used to Mo scoring a lot of goals, and at this moment in time, that is maybe the biggest difference in his performance and game time," the Dutch manager explained. However, he was quick to contextualize this slump, noting that similar phases have occurred before and that Salah has always bounced back emphatically.
Slot also highlighted the selective use of statistics, referencing Salah's recent goal and assist against Brighton just three games prior. "That is the reality," he stated, "and then you can change data and say he did not score in nine Premier League games. That is the standard he sets for himself."
A Team-Wide Challenge, Not an Individual Issue
Importantly, Slot stressed that Salah is not alone in experiencing a dip in goal output. He pointed out that other Liverpool attackers, such as Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo, have also struggled to find the net with their usual frequency recently. "It is a team thing which we have to improve," Slot asserted, while acknowledging the positive defensive record that has mitigated the need for excessive scoring.
The manager concluded with a note of optimism, recalling the team's high-scoring performances against sides like Qarabag and Newcastle. His message was clear: while the focus may be on Salah's personal drought, the solution lies in a collective uplift, and history suggests the Egyptian king will soon be back to his devastating best.
