Liverpool fans are beginning to whisper about the possibility of something big happening under Arne Slot‘s leadership – but the future of their star player Mohamed Salah remains a pressing concern.
The Reds head into the international break leading the Premier League by a comfortable five points after their 2-0 win over Aston Villa. The Kop was in full voice singing Slot’s name at the end of the match; the new head coach has had an incredible start to his tenure on Merseyside. Even in his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have hoped for a smoother start.
This 2-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah, gives them a healthy lead with plenty of breathing room. For the second week running, Liverpool were given a boost by Manchester City dropping points on the same day.
The champions’ fourth consecutive loss in all competitions, this time to Brighton and Hove Albion, means Pep Guardiola is now experiencing his toughest period at the Etihad in nine years. That’s why this latest triumph at Anfield could be so significant, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Nunez put the Reds ahead 20 minutes in, following Virgil van Dijk’s pass to Salah from a Villa corner. Salah was taken down by Leon Bailey when he was clear through, but referee David Coote strangely decided there was no foul. Nunez didn’t hang about arguing and instead continued the assault, rounding Emi Martinez and scoring his third goal of the season.
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Salah eased a second half that was beginning to feel tense when he won the ball high up the field before sprinting clear to poke home and double the lead. This was the signal for over 60,000 at Anfield to loudly proclaim their position at the top of the league – a chant they’re becoming quite accustomed to belting out with pride.
And if Liverpool needed any more motivation to conclude high-level contract discussions with Salah’s representatives, a banner unfurled in the Kop spoke volumes on behalf of the fanbase, directly addressing club owners Fenway Sports Group.
‘FSG, he fires a bow, now give him his dough’ was the rallying cry in support of Salah and his new celebration this season. With an impressive tally of 10 goals and as many assists already under his belt this season, it’s hard to dispute the case for a significantly lucrative extension, especially when his own manager reckons Salah could follow in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by remaining a top player well into his late 30s. Over to you, John W Henry.
When Slot inked his name on a three-year contract earlier this year, he probably didn’t anticipate making Anfield history so quickly. While the head coach will keep emphasising that he hopes to be remembered for more than just a scorching start, a streak of 15 victories from his first 17 competitive matches at the helm is a record no other Reds manager has achieved.
His accomplishment of nine wins from his first 11 Premier League games is also unmatched by any of his predecessors. Slot’s record outshines any of the Anfield greats at this stage of their respective tenures; neither Shankly, Paisley, Dalglish nor Klopp can claim such a streak.
The man himself is hopeful for more concrete measures of success in the future, but we shouldn’t disregard the impressive start to Slot’s reign just because it’s only the beginning. It could be the precursor to another golden era. Only time will reveal the truth, but the initial signs are extremely promising.