Mohamed Salah has confessed that this season has surpassed his wildest dreams. The Egyptian forward is confident that, even at 32, he’s got plenty more to offer as he sets his sights on further success and silverware at Anfield.
Already a decorated player with Liverpool, where he formed a formidable attacking trio with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino under Jurgen Klopp, Salah has relished taking centre stage. On the cusp of setting a new Premier League record for combined assists and goals in a single season, he acknowledges his enjoyment in being Liverpool’s talisman and proving his goal-scoring prowess under new manager Arne Slot.
Salah, who was honored as the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year, remarked: “In my opinion, it could be the biggest year. When we won the other trophies I wasn’t involved like I have been now.
“I had my numbers before – and I don’t want to sound arrogant – but they were the highest in the team but this one was so special because the numbers were really, really high for anyone in the Premier League.
“That’s why this one is always going to be special. The Premier League, coming back from holiday and all I thought about was winning the Premier League with the club and to help make the club win the Premier League. I think I had the conversation with the manager – and I was very honest with him – I told him: ‘With me, you are going to win the Premier League but I have to feel really comfortable with the way we play.'”.
“He was very honest with me, we had a few honest conversations and he said to me: ‘OK, I will get the best out of you and I will put you in a situation where you feel comfortable but I need you to provide numbers.'”.
“I did that so well and, in the end, we won the Premier League and that’s why it’s so special because you come in with that ambition with a new manager and just want to win it, you want to make it happen. But I’ll be honest with you and I didn’t even dream to have this great, great season, scoring every game, assisting every game and breaking all the records. It’s incredible. It has been my best moment at the club.”
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Salah acknowledges his eagerness to clinch the title, understanding its significance to the Liverpool faithful. He also had discussions with teammates Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Alisson Becker, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“I know how much it means to the city and also it’s a new era, if we can say that,” Salah expressed. “I wanted to prove that I am still doing it now with a different coach, with different players and I wanted to show that I am still able to do it.
“I had a couple of conversations with Virgil and with Robbo and Ali, they know how much it means to me. Trent as well. I showed everybody I could do without any other player or manager in the past, I wanted to show it to myself and doing that for myself means a lot.”
Salah has expressed his belief that Slot was destined for greatness from their initial pre-season work together at Liverpool. He elaborated: “I didn’t know from the beginning, but after a few games I started to feel the manager’s philosophy and see how smart he is, how hard he works and how hard you work and how much he wanted it. I started to realise that.
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“He worked very hard in pre-season, we were missing a few players at the start of training and I was the only one from the senior group back training early and the young players were there but you see how smart he is, into details as well. I thought then: ‘this could be a special season.'”.
“The manager is into detail, he speaks about everything, virtually everything and, for myself, I feel very fit and ready to play. It’s so special, I have a good relationship with the manager and I am very respectful towards him and his staff because we all work really hard.
“At the beginning we had that conversation, he asked me for stuff he wanted me to do and I asked him and put me in the positions and situations where I can really provide numbers and our relationship is very good and it’s working well.
“He has improved me, absolutely. I’ve always believed there’s always room to improve and I think he did it very well and you see the numbers this year and I feel very happy about it.”
