LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot has expressed confidence that Mohamed Salah is “in a good place” regarding his ongoing contract situation with the club. Salah’s current contract is set to expire at the conclusion of the season, and following Liverpool’s recent 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday, he revealed to the media his dissatisfaction over not yet receiving a new contract proposal, admitting: “I’m probably more out than in.”
During a press briefing ahead of the Champions League clash against Real Madrid on Wednesday, the discussion around Salah’s contract was a focal point. Slot sought to minimize any potential concerns regarding Salah’s performance, suggesting that the uncertainty surrounding his contract might actually be fueling his motivation. “I don’t think it distracts Mo at all,” Slot remarked. “Perhaps it even brings out the best in him when you consider his performances so far.”
Slot emphasized that he regularly communicates with Salah about expectations, similar to his discussions with other players, and noted, “He is in a good place at the moment. I’m not distracted by what he has said, and I don’t believe his teammates are either.” This season, Salah has been in remarkable form, netting 12 goals across 18 appearances for Liverpool, placing him second in the Premier League’s scoring charts with 10 goals in 12 outings, just shy of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who has 12 goals.
Slot humorously added, “If I look at my lineups, Mo is more in than out,” highlighting Salah’s continued importance to the team’s strategy. Additionally, it’s worth noting that key players Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold also find their contracts set to expire at the same time as Salah’s.
In response to the contract discussions, Liverpool defender Andy Robertson echoed Slot’s sentiments, stating, “To be fair, it applies to all three of them — Mo, Virgil, and Trent are in similar situations. Regardless, each of them remains focused on the upcoming match and is committed to training and preparation.”