Arne Slot Confident Mohamed Salah Will End Premier League Scoring Slump
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has publicly backed star forward Mohamed Salah to break his current Premier League goal drought, the longest of the Egyptian's illustrious career at Anfield. Salah has failed to find the net in his last nine top-flight appearances, with his most recent league goal dating back to November 1st against Aston Villa.
Slot Dismisses Concerns Over Salah's Form
Speaking ahead of Liverpool's upcoming match against West Ham, Slot insisted he is not worried about Salah's temporary lack of goals. The Dutch coach pointed to Salah's recent FA Cup penalty against Brighton as evidence that the forward remains a potent threat. Slot argued that the intense scrutiny on Salah is a direct consequence of the exceptionally high standards the player has set during his time at Liverpool.
"We are accustomed to Mo scoring a plethora of goals, and presently, that might be the most significant divergence in his performance and game time," Slot explained. "However, we are also aware this has occurred previously. I am uncertain if it has been nine consecutive games, but I have fielded similar inquiries when he went three or five matches without scoring. Ultimately, he always resumes finding the back of the net."
High Standards and Selective Statistics
Slot suggested that Salah's own phenomenal record is the reason for the heightened attention during dry spells. "He established his own benchmarks, and they are extraordinarily high," Slot stated. "The instant he does not score for a few fixtures, people are immediately astonished—that is the ultimate compliment he can receive."
The manager also commented on how statistics can be manipulated to support different narratives. "With data, you can utilise it to your benefit or detriment. One could debate the fairness of excluding the FA Cup game, especially against a Premier League side like Brighton," he said. "Three games ago, he provided an assist and scored against a very strong Premier League team, Brighton. That is the reality. You can then alter the data to emphasise he has not scored in nine Premier League matches."
Broader Attacking Concerns and Team News
Slot noted that the focus should not solely be on Salah, as other Liverpool attackers are also experiencing lean spells. "The spotlight is entirely on him due to his monumental contributions to the club, but Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo have not netted many goals recently either," he added, highlighting a broader issue within the forward line.
Looking ahead to the West Ham fixture, Liverpool will likely be without midfielder Florian Wirtz, who sustained a back injury during the warm-up before last week's victory at Nottingham Forest. Slot expressed disappointment, indicating Wirtz may also miss the subsequent match against Wolves. In more positive news, right-back Jeremie Frimpong is back in contention after recovering from an injury suffered during the 6-0 win over Qarabag.
