FOOTBALL
Salah surprised by Slot's instant impact at Liverpool
Mohamed Salah admitted Arne Slot's impact at Liverpool since replacing Jurgen Klopp has surprised him.
Klopp departed at the end of last season, with Slot making the switch from Feyenoord to step into the Anfield dugout and has led the Reds to the Premier League title in his first campaign.
Liverpool wrapped up the title with a thumping 5-1 win over Tottenham on April 27, with Slot becoming the fifth manager to win the competition on his first attempt, not including the inaugural season.
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He followed in the footsteps of Jose Mourinho (Chelsea, 2004-05), Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea, 2009-10), Manuel Pellegrini (Man City, 2013-14) and Antonio Conte (Chelsea, 2016-17).
Liverpool are averaging 2.34 points in the top-flight this season, and Slot has overseen just three defeats in the league overall.
"I didn't expect us to win so quickly," Salah told France Football.
"Who could have predicted that the transition would be successful so quickly? No one, I think. In pre-season, Arne came to see me and asked me to be an example for the other players.
"I told him not to worry because I'm always at my best, not to set an example, but because that's who I am. He told me what he expected of me in the game, with a lot of responsibilities in running, which I liked."
Salah has enjoyed a standout season in 2024-25, netting 28 Premier League goals and adding a further 18 assists.
And now, only Harry Kane (213 for Spurs) and Sergio Aguero (184 for Manchester City) have scored more goals for a single Premier League club than Salah has for Liverpool (183, level with Wayne Rooney for Manchester United).
The Egyptian was signed by Klopp in July 2017, and he highlighted the differences between the German and his successor.
"Arne is very direct; he re-established the competitive level, whereas with Jurgen, we were perhaps a little too much in our comfort zone towards the end," Salah added.
"Arne and his staff are more open to discussion, to sharing feelings. I think that was important in my performances. And, above all, it led us to success."
Liverpool take on Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, with Salah needing just one more goal involvement to equal the all-time record. He has 46 so far this term, with Andrew Cole (1993-94) and Alan Shearer (1994-95) holding the joint-record of 47 in a single season.
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