Arne Slot explains Mohamed Salah’s slow start to the season

Liverpool coach Arne Slot has clarified more on Mohamed Salah’s slow start. The Egyptian striker has only scored two goals in what has been a slow start by any standard. Liverpool will face Chelsea in Round 7 of the Premier League on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

Slot attributed Salah’s lower goal contribution for the Reds to the change in playing style of opposition clubs. “I see the same as at the end of last season, when he scored 12 goals — five from penalties and one from a set piece, so six open-play goals. He is part of a team that faces different opposition compared to the first half of last season.”

Salah opened his goal account this season in a 4–2 win over Bournemouth and in a 1–0 victory against Burnley. In a pre-match press conference, Slot stated that the reigning champions are not scoring enough goals this season with last season’s top scorer struggling:

“That is one of the reasons why it is more difficult to score open-play goals in the second half of last season and the first half of this season. What I am trying to say is we are not scoring as many open-play goals. This is something we are working on very hard. But yes, we are struggling a bit to find enough goals from open play.”

🗣️ Arne Slot on Mo Salah’s form:

“Now you’re focused on Mo, next time you’re focused on Florian [Wirtz], next time on Cody [Gakpo].

“What I’m trying to say: we don’t score as many open-play goals as we did in the first half of last season.” pic.twitter.com/eYfMJcIpvO

— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) October 3, 2025

Salah, 33, and Liverpool will visit Chelsea as they look to bounce back after two successive defeats on the road. Liverpool are still top of the Premier League with 15 points.