Arne Slot provides response when asked if Mohamed Salah is irreplaceable at Liverpool
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has shared his thoughts on whether star forward Mohamed Salah is indispensable to the club. The Egyptian star is in a rich vein of form to start the season, which may be his last at the club owing to his contract situation.
Salah has been a resounding success since moving to Anfield from Serie A side AS Roma in 2017. The forward has grown in stature to become one of the greatest players in the history of the club within seven years as a Red. Dutch manager Slot has enjoyed the 32-year-old's presence so far this season. The winger also contributed two assists in their 4-0 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League at Anfield on November 5.
Arne Slot appeared to be uncomfortable with the topic of Salah being irreplaceable after he was described using the word following the Bayer Leverkusen game. The manager spoke with TNT Sports Brasil about the tag, affirming the importance of the forward while also keeping his contract situation in the conversation.
“Is Salah irreplaceable? That’s not what I think about at the moment. The only thing that I think about is that he’s so important for us [because he] scores important goals, works hard for the team and I’m hoping that he can enjoy that feeling [scoring at Anfield] many, many, many more times – especially if I’m here.
“But even if I’m not here I’m still hoping for him that he can do this many more times. He’s been incredible for Liverpool for the past six, seven, eight years.
“I don’t know exactly how long he’s been here, and he’s been incredible for us this season. I hope he can continue doing this for the rest of the season and maybe longer to come. But that’s something up to him and the club to find the idea about the future.”
Mohamed Salah signed for Liverpool in 2017 and has been one of the most consistent players in the world in the seven years since then. He has scored 220 goals and provided 98 assists in 365 appearances for the club, winning every trophy available except the UEFA Europa League.
His contract is set to run out at the end of the season, and he will be available for a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs in January.
Liverpool trounce Bundesliga champions in Champions League
Liverpool recorded a resounding 4-0 win over Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen to momentarily move to the summit of the UEFA Champions League standings on November 5. Arne Slot's side were too good for their German opposition, who lost just one game in the entirety of the 2023-24 season.
Xabi Alonso's side put up a fierce resistance at Anfield, resulting in a goalless first hour before the Reds turned on the style. Luis Diaz opened the scoring for the home side after 61 minutes before Cody Gakpo doubled their lead two minutes later.
Mohamed Salah assisted Diaz to score Liverpool's third in the 83rd minute before the Colombian completed his hat-trick in added time to seal the win. The Reds have now won all four games to start the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League season, in addition to leading the way in the Premier League.