MOHAMMED SALAH walked past reporters with a smile after Liverpool’s win at Nottingham Forest. He chose not to speak. His focus was clear — he wants to start and contribute on the pitch.
It has been more than two months since Salah publicly expressed frustration after being left out of the starting XI for three straight games. He felt disappointed with how the situation was handled. Soon after, he apologised to his teammates and spoke with manager Arne Slot. The issue quickly settled.
Liverpool’s injury concerns opened the door for Salah’s return to the lineup. Since coming back from the Africa Cup of Nations in January, he has started every match. Before the tournament, Slot had benched him for five consecutive games.
During Afcon, Salah looked refreshed and confident. Members of Egypt’s camp described it as one of the happiest periods of his career. He returned to Liverpool with renewed energy.
Slot has praised Salah’s defensive work and team effort. After the FA Cup win against Brighton, where Salah scored and assisted, the manager highlighted his work off the ball. He said Salah’s defensive contribution has improved compared to last season.
Still, the biggest concern remains his goal drought in the Premier League. Salah has not scored in the league since November. If he fails to score against West Ham, it will mark 10 straight league games without a goal — the longest dry spell of his career.
Salah sets extremely high standards. That is why even a short dip draws attention. This season, he averages 0.56 goals and assists per league game. Last season, he averaged 1.25 and led the charts in both goals and assists.
His attacking numbers have dropped. He is taking fewer shots and recording fewer touches in the opponent’s box. His expected goals per 90 minutes have fallen from 0.68 to 0.34.
Even so, his overall contribution remains solid. He has 10 league goal involvements this season. That total still compares well with other top players.
Slot remains confident. He believes Salah will regain his scoring touch. The manager said this situation has happened before, and each time Salah responded strongly.
Liverpool will now hope their star forward rediscovers his sharpness as the season enters a crucial phase.
