Liverpool boss Arne Slot confident in Mohamed Salah's goal scoring abilities

Liverpool manager Arne Slot expressed his lack of surprise at Mohamed Salah's outstanding performance in their 2-0 Champions League win over Bologna on Oct 2.

The Egyptian forward set up Alexis Mac Allister’s goal with a pinpoint cross, and then bagged his own with a rocket to the top corner for an astounding 49th goal in the Champions League.

It was Salah’s third goal in his last three games, which came on the back of a three-game mini drought.

“Before (last week’s League Cup win over West Ham United), Mo played three games without scoring a goal. So it is in football, it can happen that sometimes in three games, you score one or you don’t score,” Slot said.

“But these players, like Mo, they will always score their goals if you just keep playing them.”

The manager would not speculate on Salah’s future at the Merseyside club. The player’s contract expires at the end of this season and he has said this will be his last season at Anfield.

“Mo has done really well today, and I’m happy with the way he does at the moment, and I’m not looking forward to next season,” Slot added.

The 46-year-old Dutchman, who replaced Jurgen Klopp in the close season, has become the team’s first manager to win eight of their first nine games across all competitions.

Already sitting top of the Premier League six matches into the season, the understated Slot has deftly ensured Liverpool have not missed a beat since the end of Klopp’s successful reign.

Even Klopp, Kenny Dalglish, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley were unable to muster as many wins at the start of their spells in charge of the Reds.

Besides topping the Premier League, Liverpool have won their opening two in the Champions League to sit fifth in the 36-team table. Slot, however, shrugged off the accolade.

“I don’t draw many conclusions from that, but it’s nice. So many incredible managers have worked here, doing so many special things,” he said.

“The only thing is I hope it is not the only thing people remember me for in two or three years or however long I am here. If all they say is, ‘that’s the manager who won eight out of nine!’

“I’m hoping to do more special things than just win eight out of my first nine games.”

He also praised Klopp for the squad he inherited.

“It also says how I have been left this club – the work rate the players put in, how the staff are helping me get these results,” Slot said.

The Bologna match is over now, and he is already looking ahead to Premier League football at the weekend.

“Overall a good result but I wouldn’t use the world ‘delighted’ myself,” he said.

“There are even more difficult fixtures coming up, starting on Saturday when we play a 12.30pm kick-off (at Crystal Palace) after a Wednesday evening Champions League game.” , AFP