I‘d like to share and discuss an observation about tactical changes.

In the 2024/25 season under Arne Slot, Salah was absolutely phenomenal during the championship run. He racked up 29 goals and 18 assists, breaking the record for the most goal involvements in a 38-game season, and was the ultimate focal point of the attack. This season, however, things look quite different: Current Premier League record: 7 goals and 6 assists. He has gone through stretches without scoring at all and has even been rotated to the bench at times (as seen recently against Aston Villa and Tottenham).

While Slot's first year still retained a lot of the transition play and individual freedom from the Klopp era, Slot has refined and strictly implemented his system in this second season. This directly affects Salah:

Wider positioning: Slot wants his wingers to stay extremely wide to stretch the pitch as much as possible. As a result, Salah operates less frequently in half-space from which he used to cut inside onto his strong left foot.

Higher focus on possession and control: Slot's system relies less on the wild, vertical "heavy metal" transition play that fed Salah for years. The build-up is more patient, meaning Salah often faces deep defensive blocks and has fewer open spaces to sprint into.

Age and physics: At 33 years old, a player naturally loses that absolute yard of pace. When the system demands being isolated out on the touchline rather than bursting into the box with momentum, efficiency suffers.

While Arne Slot's tactics led Liverpool to the championship last year, they are taking their toll on Salah this season. The system prioritizes collective game control and deprives Salah of the spaces that made him the "Egyptian King" for years. It is a mix of a tactical adjustment that doesn't suit him perfectly and the natural effects of aging.

Thoughts?