Liverpool boss Arne Slot has paid tribute to Mohamed Salah after the winger signed a contract extension keeping him at Anfield until 2027.
The 32-year-old’s future has been subject to much speculation this term and rumours of a switch to Saudi Arabia were gaining traction, but those have now been quashed.
The Reds are on course to win the Premier League title for the second time, and in Slot’s first season.
Salah has been pivotal in the stride towards silverware, netting 27 times in 31 top-flight appearances this term.
And following the announcement, Slot could not hold his delight in during his press conference ahead of West Ham game on Sunday.
He said: “First of all, he has always been judged as a player, which is of course what you guys should do. But I also see him as a human being. He is a humble person. He always wants to work hard and always puts a lot of effort into becoming the player he has become. And he wants to stay at that level, so he just keeps on bringing that effort every single day.
“What makes him special on the pitch, in my opinion, is that he can score goals. There are more players who can score goals, but Mo can score goals even if he is not in the best half hour or best 15 minutes and that’s why he is mentally so strong as well.
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“You need to be that if you want to be at the highest level every three or four days for seven or eight years. Apart from quality and physique, you need to be mentally really strong as well.
“Apart from all the other things, how mentally strong he is is probably what stands out for me.”
Slot believes his winger is at the top of the pile when it comes to quality across Europe, and admits the club have been able to extract the best out of him this season.
At 32, the former Chelsea winger has limited time at the top level left, but he has still proved his credentials and put himself in the conversation to win the Ballon d’Or later this year.
Slot added: “We are always trying to achieve a bit more as a team and as individuals. But if you are playing for Liverpool, you are close to getting to the maximum of your ability.
“There is not a lot of room for improvement for Mo or the other players anymore. We are just trying to reach perfection.
“We are trying to get the best and maximum out of the players to find that 1% or 2% extra. But it’s clear that Mo is coming close to the end – not to the end of his career but his ability.
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“We have brought almost the maximum out of his qualities this season.
“Then it’s about consistency, which is one of the most difficult things in football. That’s why he is seen as such a star player.
“To play once or twice like Mo, many players can, but to do it at such a consistent level, that’s what makes it so difficult.”
It will be an important summer for Liverpool as they look to solidify their dominance in England.
Rivals Arsenal are planning to spend big and Manchester City will continue their rebuild under Pep Guardiola after a poor campaign.
Slot says Salah’s extension will help attract more top talent to Anfield, something that will be crucial in helping the Reds compete on all fronts.
He said: “If I put myself in the shoes of a player we might want to sign, it’s always nice to tell them that Mo has extended his contract. That helps but what helps the most is that we kept a quality player who has scored for seven or eight years in a row so many goals for us.
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“As I said, football is a game where we are mostly judged on the goals we score and the ones we do not concede. So it’s helpful to have a player who scores goals. That’s for sure.”
“If I look at all the wingers all around the world, I don’t see them outplaying their opponents every single time for the whole 90 minutes. If you are a winger, you have to be creative and that’s the most difficult part in football, especially against low blocks that many good wingers face these days.
“It’s normal that once in a while you lose the ball or one of your actions fails.
“But, in general, Mo has a lot of impact on our game with his goals and assists, but not only that. He is a big threat, but he is not the only one.
“Wingers are becoming more and more important in the modern game of football because teams are going lower and lower with their blocks than ever before.
“If you look at Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli, they were all able to open up the last line and create chances. That’s what Mo is doing for us.”
