Liverpool boss Arne Slot lays out Mohamed Salah 'expectations' now new deal signed

Arne Slot hailed Mohamed Salah as an extraordinary talent, predicting that even at 35, the Liverpool ace will still be a top goal scorer and creator. After prolonged negotiations, Salah agreed to extend his Liverpool stay until 2027, making him one of the highest earners in the league with a weekly wage of £350,000.

He's aiming for football immortality, chasing Alan Shearer's all-time Premier League scoring record and gunning for Ryan Giggs' assist tally. With 27 goals this season, Salah is eyeing both the Golden Boot and the assists crown.

Slot lavished praise on Salah's durability and exceptional condition: "Mo is a physical freak. That's why it doesn't surprise me that he is still on his level at his age. It's about what he does physically and also mentally to stay at top of his game for a whole season, because it's very hard to do what he does every three days."

"And then, to do this for seven or eight years in a row, is even harder - and he has two more he has to go and he will prove that he's able to do so.

"You never know if he's going to score exactly the same amount, or a few more or a few less. But we expect - and he expects himself as well - to stay at his level.

"We are extending him three months before the next season starts - and I think we can all agree on the fact that Mo has had an incredible season this year. So there's every reason to expect him to be at the same level at the start of next season."

Liverpool boss Mikel Arteta has also moved to tie Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk to the club for the next two years, though Anfield sources believe England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure to Real Madrid this summer is a formality after he refused to sign a new contract.

Liverpool are attempting to take another step towards the title by beating West Ham at Anfield following their second Premier League defeat of the campaign at Fulham last weekend.

Slot still remains frustrated over his side's Champions League exit on penalties to Paris St-Germain but rates the French side as one of the best teams in the game.

Slot said: "It was the best game (against PSG), but I also think Arsenal and (Manchester) City are incredible teams. Chelsea were also a good team.

"There are three or four of them - and Paris St Germain are in the top three or four with the others.

"But the margins at our level are so small. In the end, it took penalties for PSG to go through against us and now they might go all the way and everyone will forget about that day when they had all the luck."