Arne Slot says he wants to see a frustrated Mohamed Salah because the ‘fire’ of desire in the talismanic Egyptian would be extinguished the day he reacts well to not being in the team.
Salah was a substitute in Liverpool’s 5-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday and cut a frustrated figure after the match as his run without a goal extended to six club games.
The off-colour forward has scored just three goals this season for the Reds and has not gone seven games without a goal since 2022 – but Slot says he is happy to see Salah looking agitated when not picked for the starting XI.
Asked if he takes it well when dropped or rested, Slot said: ‘I hope he is not ever going to take it well, because the moment you are going to take it well then you miss the fire.
‘That goes for every player, by the way. Not only Mo. The moment you start to accept that you are not playing any more and you are fine with that, then you miss the fire that is needed to play at this level.
‘They all see football through their eyes, and again that’s a good thing. If you go over to all 20 players now to name their line-up, I’d be surprised if there’s one player who doesn’t put himself in.’
Arne Slot says he is happy to see Mo Salah looking agitated when not picked for the starting XI
Salah has cut a frustrated figure of late amid his struggles – but Slot backed him to rediscover his form
Salah’s form is not a new thing as he only scored two in the final nine league games of last term – despite getting 57 goal involvements overall in an outstanding campaign – but Slot is not worried and says he is confident it will soon be back to normal.
‘The main thing is that Mo has always scored goals for our club and the last thing I worry about is Mo starting to score goals again.
‘Because that is what he has done his whole life and that is what I expect him to do in the upcoming weeks and months for our club as well.’
Asked why he has confidence Salah will soon come good, Slot added: ‘The way he trains, and when we do finishing drills you cannot lose that. The only thing is we have to keep bringing him into those (scoring) positions and he has to bring himself into those positions.
‘There are a lot of things that can happen when you get older. But if I can select one player who has the ball 12 yards from goal and I want him to score to save my job, I would have Mo in that position.’
Liverpool travel to Brentford today to face former captain Jordan Henderson and Co, though they are sweating on the fitness of Alexander Isak who has a groin injury. The Swede is up against it to be fit, though Ryan Gravenberch was hopeful of returning.
Jeremie Frimpong will be sidelined for several weeks – at least, it could be more depending on a more detailed prognosis – with a hamstring injury, while Alisson remains on the sidelines.
