'He listened & you can see the numbers' - Mohamed Salah aims thinly-veiled dig at Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool talisman reveals he told Arne Slot exactly how he wants to play

The Egyptian superstar was on target again as the Reds confirmed their coronation as the kings of English football with a 5-1 mauling of Tottenham at Anfield. He has 28 top-flight efforts to his name this term, pulling him six clear of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak in the Golden Boot race.

Salah has posted his best return across all competitions since his debut campaign on Merseyside, when he registered 44 efforts, and credits Arne Slot with helping to bring the best out of him - with the Dutch coach having inherited the managerial reins from Klopp last summer.

Salah told Sky Sports of his different role under Slot: “You can see the numbers. Now I don't have to defend much. The tactics are quite different. I said 'as long as you rest me defensively I will provide offensively', so I am glad that I did.

“He listened a lot and you can see the numbers. When you play in the Premier League you have to defend but I said that I can gamble and somehow I can make a difference. My number of assists shows that you can create chances as well.”

Salah, who recently committed to a long-awaited contract extension at Liverpool, is a now a two-time Premier League title winner. He added on emulating efforts from 2020, when Covid restrictions forced the Reds to celebrate in front of empty stands: “This is 100% better than last time, especially with the fans. We have a different group now so to show we can do it again is something special.”

Liverpool have four games left to take in this season, with pressure being lifted off them heading into a trip to Chelsea next time out and a home date with Arsenal on May 11.