Mo Salah believes that Arne Slot’s decision to remove his defensive responsibilities has made him a better player in attack for Liverpool.
The Egyptian winger has been the standout performer in the Reds’ Premier League title-winning campaign, which was sealed with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.
Slot is the first Dutch manager to win the competition and just the fifth head coach to do so in his debut season. Salah says a combination of directness and willingness to listen to his players has been a key part of their success this season.
“He was very honest,” he told Sky Sports. “He’s Dutch, the Dutch are quite tough, but he made out lives easier because he asked immediately what he wanted you to do, which is what we did.”
Salah reveals how Slot made him a better Liverpool player
Salah is enjoying the best season of his career, registering 46 goal involvements in 34 league appearances. Asked if Slot has made him a better player at the age of 32, he responded: “You see the numbers, it seems so! Now I don’t have to defend much.”
Slot had big shoes to fill in replacing Jurgen Klopp, who led Liverpool to their first top-flight title in 30 years, but his work with the players and tactical tweaks have paid dividends.
Asked about the difference between the two managers, Salah said:”It’s quite difficult to say one thing, but the tactics are quite different.
“But I told him ‘as long as you rest me defensively, I will provide offensively’ – so I’m glad I did.
“It was the manager’s idea of course, but he listens a lot.”
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