Arne Slot responds to criticism of ‘special’ Mohamed Salah at Liverpool

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Arne Slot has explained what makes Mohamed Salah “special” amid intense criticism of the Liverpool forward.

Salah extended his record to two goals and three assists to start the 2025/26 campaign after he contributed a goal and an assist in the 3-2 win against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

The Egyptian made Champions League history on the night and marked the occasion by issuing the perfect response to the intense criticism.

Liverpool have been enduring teething problems at Anfield as Slot aims to strike the perfect balance with his new-look side.

And Salah has been dubbed “terrible” for his displays in the opening fixtures despite averaging one goal involvement per match, and Slot has now broken his silence on the response to his star talisman.

Arne Slot shares why Mohamed Salah is highly regarded at Liverpool

When speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s clash with Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the season, Slot hit back at Salah’s critics.

“Now, for me, when you are a great player, you still attribute to the team if you don’t play well. So many players can attribute goals or assists when they play well, but not a lot of them can attribute something to the team when they don’t play well. And with attribute, I mean goals and assists, so they can always give their work rate.

“But this is what stands out with Mo, I think even, and which is normal, especially if you’re a winger, it’s so difficult to always be creative, or always be the player he was against Atletico Madrid. But if he’s not that player, which is normal, then he still has goals and assists.

“And I think that is why the fans love him so much, and why he’s so highly regarded and respected, because a lot, a lot, a lot of players can play good when the team plays good or when they play good themselves, but not a lot can do special things when they are not at their best. And that is what he can, and that’s what makes him so special. I think, well, I prefer to see him like he was in the Atletico game.

“He was very much involved. That was also very positive. So the Newcastle game, there was hardly the ball in play. It was difficult for every player to be special. But now we played so many balls to him. He was so much involved. Touched the ball so many times.

“Florian (Wirtz) found him, so many times. So it was, that was a joy to watch, to see him like that. But if we don’t see him like that, he’s still able to score goals, and that’s, that’s what makes him special, I think.”

Despite the outside noise, the 33-year-old has still delivered big moments for the Reds at this early stage of the season after Salah ended a six-year drought against Burnley when scoring the 95th-minute match-winner.

Salah has established himself as one, if not the, best forward sin world football since arriving at Anfield in 2017, with Alan Shearer praising the forward’s elite mentality as he continues to play at the highest level in the twilight years of his career.

Furthermore, Salah only had one more goal contribution at this stage last season, and he went on to claim both the Premier League’s golden boot and playmaker awards.

Mohamed Salah has an impeccable record against Everton

As big players often do, Salah always manages to step up for the big occasions for Liverpool, and the Merseyside derby is no different.

His first-ever goal against the Blues won the 2018 FIFA Puskas award, and most recently, he played a part in both of Liverpool’s goals in the final match at Goodison Park last season.

Salah has scored eight goals and added two assists in 13 outings against Everton in all competitions, with exactly half of his contributions occurring at Anfield.

Indeed, the criticism of his performances appears unjust and based on history; it is likely that Salah will play a pivotal role for the Reds on Saturday.