Mo Salah is thriving under Arne Slot, playing a pivotal role in Liverpool’s impressive Premier League title charge.
Liverpool are 9 points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s City and 7 points above second-placed Chelsea. Arne Slot’s first season as Liverpool’s head coach has seen the Merseyside team mount a strong charge towards the Premier League title. One man who has been instrumental and looks rejuvenated under Slot’s leadership is Mo Salah. Mohamed Salah has been in exceptional form this season for Liverpool, with 13 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. His 21 goal involvements in 14 Premier League games have been a key reason why Liverpool are firmly placed in the title race.
Mo Salah tactical evolution under Arne Slot
Since Slot took over Jurgen Klopp, No Liverpool player have been more involved in the final third than Salah’s 47 shots in the Premier League this season and is second only to Erling Haaland for shots on target with 28, averaging 2.05 shots on target per game. Mohamed Salah’s movement has been a key factor this season, with the 32-year-old leaning towards creating separation from his marker by intelligent movement rather than taking his player on. His 13 goals from 10.5 xG highlight how frequently Salah’s intelligent reading of space has been critical in getting the Liverpool winger into dangerous areas.
In the 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates, Mohamed Salah capitalized on the space vacated by Ben White’s diagonal run toward Nunez, finishing with a well-controlled shot past David Raya. For the winning goal against Brighton, Salah drifted away from Estupiñán rather than making a direct run, adjusting his body to place the ball perfectly into the top corner. It’s remarkable how Mo Salah has compensated for his slight loss of explosive dribbling pace with a deeper understanding of space and positioning. Salah’s 9 goals from open play this season have all come from inside the box, with 44 of his 47 shots also taken inside the box. Notably, Salah’s 9.74 touches per 90 minutes in the opposition box reflect an improvement from last season’s 9.20.
Consistency in the Box
Salah’s creativity in the final third has also flourished under Arne Slot, with the veteran winger on track to break his personal assist record in the league. He currently ranks second in the Premier League for assists, with 8 so far this season—just two behind league leader Bukayo Saka. Mo Salah has created 7 big chances in the Premier League this season and has produced 26 chances for his teammates. His performances against elite opposition have also been critical for Liverpool, with 6 goal involvements against this season’s top 5 teams. Goals against Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Brighton have been pivotal in maintaining Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table.
Despite uncertainty surrounding Salah’s contract situation at Liverpool, his importance this season cannot be overstated. Some diehard Liverpool fans have even launched a media campaign advocating for his Ballon d’Or recognition. Whatever happens next summer, Mo Salah remains an integral part of Slot’s tactical setup, just as he was under Jurgen Klopp.
