Arne Slot has outlined his plans to optimize Liverpool’s structure to get the best out of Mohamed Salah this season.
The Reds’ head coach shared that Jurgen Klopp had informed him about the “really good culture” within the squad before Slot took over at the start of June.
Salah marked his ninth opening-day goal as a Liverpool player in last weekend’s 2-0 win over Ipswich Town, breaking the record previously held by Frank Lampard, Alan Shearer, and Wayne Rooney.
This goal, following an assist for Diogo Jota, earned Salah considerable praise for his all-around performance at Portman Road.
With less than a year remaining on his contract, speculation continues about Salah’s future beyond this season.
However, having opted to forgo an Olympic Games appearance with Egypt in Paris to fully commit to a pre-season under Slot at Anfield, the 32-year-old has hit the ground running this summer.
When asked about his strategy to maximize Salah’s impact, Slot elaborated on his approach, saying: “It’s my firm belief that you don’t improve individuals, you improve the team and because of that individuals improve.
“So if Mo and Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mo and Conor Bradley play better together, or Mo has a better understanding and timing with Dom Szoboszlai, then the end result is you will say Mo has become better.
“But I think it’s about team structure, working on a daily basis to improve them, and of course we as a staff show individuals what timing they can do better or where they can run or when they have to defend.
“But improving an individual nine out of 10 times happens by improving the team.
“Give them a clear structure in what they have to do and Mo, like all the others, is part of the team and has his tasks that he has to do.
“Sometimes you show them what they do really well and sometimes you show them where they can improve.”
Slot added: “How have I found Mo?
“Like all of the others, really positive. That is what Jurgen told me.
“I only had one conversation with him but he told me many things.
“He said to me that there is a really good culture in this club and players want to work hard and they are coming here every day to try to improve.
“That is what I have felt with all of them, with Mo, Virgil (Van Dijk), Trey Nyoni, Harvey Elliott.
“From old to young they all come in because in the end they all just enjoy playing football and that is what we do here.”
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