MANY believed Mohamed Salah would follow Jurgen Klopp out the Liverpool exit door. The Egyptian’s future was the subject of much speculation last season, but he remained to play an important role in the Arne Slot era which started with a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday. Salah, as was so often the case under Klopp, was the Reds’ biggest difference-maker.

Under Slot, Salah is being asked to play in a slightly different way. While the Dutchman favours an approach similar to Klopp, which led Liverpool to appoint him in the first place, he wants his team to use possession in a more considered manner. This means Salah is having to cover less ground and do less off the ball.

At 32 years old, this is the sort of thing that could prolong Salah’s time at the elite level of English and European football. Slot’s style of play could even be a catalyst for the Egyptian to reach an even higher level. As was the case against Ipswich when Salah scored one and assisted another, he is now prioritising his attacking output.

Of course, this could put pressure on the players behind Salah to pick up his defensive slack with Slot still moulding his midfield unit, but it could be well worth the compromise in order to get one of the most dangerous attackers in the Premier League into better areas more frequently. Salah is still Liverpool’s main focal point.

“It’s been quite different,” said Salah when asked about the stylistic transition under Slot. “Jurgen was here for eight years, he gave everything. Now we have a new manager, a new system, it’s very different for us. We need to adapt and take it step by step to learn his way to play and enjoy our football. We just need to play football and enjoy our games, and then we’ll see.”

Liverpool will face tougher tests than the one posed by Ipswich Town on opening weekend. Kieran McKenna’s side caused the visitors to Portman Road problems in the first half, but their bold approach ultimately played into Liverpool’s hands as they found a way to bypass the opposition press.

A better test of Slot’s suitability for the Liverpool job will come when his team come up against a low defensive block. Under Klopp, the Reds were among the best at opening up space and finding a way through opponents that sit deep. In this scenario, will Slot’s insistence on methodical build-up hinder Liverpool rather than help them?

There isn’t an area of Slot’s team that isn’t being closely scrutinised following the handover of managerial power this summer. Jarell Quansah started against Ipswich, but was withdrawn for Ibrahima Konate due to the number of defensive duels he lost. Ryan Gravenberch started as the number six, but is very much a stop-gap solution as Liverpool search for a new midfield anchor.

Luis Diaz was deployed on the left wing amid continued speculation over his future with Barcelona and Manchester City believed to be admirers of the Colombian. Then there’s Darwin Nunez who must prove he has the composure and cutting edge to lead the line for a title-challenging team like the Merseyside outfit.

Salah, however, is already proven as one of the greatest players of the Premier League era. He’s well-established as a Liverpool legend and is now being harnessed by a different manager who wants to squeeze even more out of his best player. Far from being the end of Salah’s time at Liverpool, this season could mark the start of another phase of his brilliant career.

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