Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made it crystal clear: he’s not losing any sleep over Mohamed Salah’s recent struggles in front of goal. Despite the Egyptian star’s unusually quiet spell, Slot’s confidence in his talisman remains rock solid. As Liverpool gear up for a crucial Premier League clash against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium this weekend, all eyes are on Salah—can he rediscover his scoring touch?
Salah’s numbers this season tell a story of uncharacteristic drought. The prolific forward has managed just two goals in his first eight Premier League appearances of the 2025-2026 campaign. For a player who’s built his reputation on relentless consistency and a nose for goal, it’s an unusual sight. To make matters more glaring, Salah hasn’t found the back of the net in his last six outings across all competitions—a run that’s raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
Slot, however, isn’t one to panic. When asked about Salah’s form, he offered a calm and measured perspective. “I don’t know if it’s sharpness. In general, players miss chances. He’s a human being. We’re not used to him missing chances let alone a few games in a row, but these things happen,” Slot stated. “The main thing is Mo has always scored goals for our club. The last thing I worry about is Mo starting to score goals again because that’s what he has done his whole life and that’s what I expect him to do again.”
But what’s behind Salah’s sudden dip? Slot has a theory, and it’s one that resonates with the Anfield faithful. The departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool’s creative engine down the right flank, has left a noticeable void. Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid at the end of last season, had formed a dynamic partnership with Salah over the years. Their on-field chemistry was a cornerstone of Liverpool’s attacking play, with Trent’s pinpoint deliveries and overlapping runs opening up countless opportunities for Salah.
“Maybe his whole Liverpool career he played with Trent, so it could [be that],” Slot mused. “He’s been in promising positions often enough to score goals, maybe with Trent even more. But in general, if you have quite a few changes in the summer you have to find new connections. Mo is no exception to this.”
The challenge of adapting to life without Alexander-Arnold isn’t unique to Salah. Liverpool underwent significant changes over the summer, and the team as a whole is still searching for its rhythm. Slot acknowledged this period of transition, noting, “In general, players miss chances. He’s a human being, like all the others. We’re not used to him missing chances, let alone a few games in a row, but these things happen.”
It’s not just Salah who’s feeling the effects of a turbulent start to the season. Liverpool recently snapped a four-game losing streak in all competitions with a resounding 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. That midweek triumph, which saw Salah left out of the starting XI and limited to a goalless cameo off the bench, provided a much-needed boost to morale. Slot reflected on the team’s struggles, saying, “It has been a difficult moment for all of us. Nobody is used to losing, particularly the players who have been here a long time. Scorelines have an impact on opinions of people. I need to show everyone what we did well and what we did wrong.”
For Liverpool, the win in Germany was a breath of fresh air after a period where, as Slot put it, “At the moment if we do one tiny thing wrong then we concede. We have to make sure that we do things 10 out of 10 times perfect. Some moments have been unlucky. A period of time like this, you have to be perfect.”
As the Reds prepare for Brentford, they’ll have to contend with a growing injury list. Alexander Isak, the Swedish forward who arrived from Newcastle in the summer, is a major doubt for the weekend after picking up a groin injury during the Frankfurt game. “Alexander [Isak] is not too bad. He is a question mark for the weekend so we will see where he is and that is the same with Ryan Gravenberch. Alisson Becker is also not in the squad,” Slot confirmed in his pre-match briefing.
The absence of Isak could open the door for Salah to return to the starting lineup and shoulder even more responsibility in attack. But the injury woes don’t stop there. Jeremie Frimpong, another summer signing, is sidelined with a hamstring issue and is set to miss at least another week. “Jeremie Frimpong is not in a good place, he won’t play today, tomorrow or next week. Hamstring injuries take a while,” Slot revealed.
Ryan Gravenberch’s fitness is also up in the air, and Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s dependable No. 1, is not included in the squad for the Brentford trip. The mounting injuries mean Slot will need to shuffle his pack once again, testing the squad’s depth and resilience.
Despite these setbacks, optimism lingers around Anfield. Salah recently signed a two-year contract extension before the end of last season, a clear sign of the club’s faith in his enduring quality. The Egyptian’s track record speaks for itself, and Slot’s unwavering belief in his star man is echoed by many within the club. “The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again because that’s what he does his whole life and that’s what I expect him to do again,” Slot reiterated.
As Liverpool look to build on their Champions League momentum and get their Premier League campaign back on track, the spotlight will remain firmly on Salah. Can he rediscover his lethal touch against Brentford, or will the search for new connections in the post-Alexander-Arnold era continue to pose challenges?
One thing’s for sure: with Slot’s steady hand at the helm and Salah’s hunger undiminished, Liverpool’s supporters have every reason to believe that brighter days are just around the corner. The upcoming fixture at the Gtech Community Stadium promises to be a telling chapter in the Reds’ evolving story this season. As the action unfolds, the football world will be watching to see if Salah can silence the doubters and reignite his legendary scoring prowess.
For now, Liverpool fans wait in anticipation, hopeful that their Egyptian King will soon remind everyone why he’s one of the Premier League’s most feared forwards. The journey continues, and with Slot’s backing, Salah remains central to Liverpool’s ambitions—no matter how tough the road ahead may seem.
