Has Mohamed Salah’s golden touch deserted him?

Mohamed Salah’s golden touch may have deserted him in recent weeks, but with Liverpool all but crowned Premier League champions, Arne Slot is showing no concern.

Salah drew another blank in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat at Fulham on Sunday, extending his goal drought to four matches in all competitions. It’s a rare barren spell for the Egyptian, who had been delivering at a staggering rate earlier this season.

With 54 goal contributions in just 45 games, Salah was being tipped as a genuine Ballon d’Or contender not long ago. That’s not to say he still isn’t a frontrunner for the trophy, but recent outings certainly haven’t lived up to that status.

But while the goals have dried up, Slot remains calm. The Dutchman backed his No.11 to bounce back quickly, even after he spurned a glorious chance at Craven Cottage as Liverpool missed the opportunity to pull 14 points clear of Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

“Maybe he should see it as a compliment [that people are talking about it] because his numbers were not normal [when he was scoring],” said Slot.

“The good thing about Mo is he knows what kind of player he is. Mo will show up again, I don’t worry about that.”

Salah’s recent dip in form has coincided with Liverpool’s most demanding run of fixtures. He struggled to influence either the Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle or the Champions League exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, and his performance against Fulham typified his recent frustrations.

Still, the context can’t be ignored. Salah was instrumental in propelling Liverpool to the summit of the Premier League earlier this season, producing one of his most complete campaigns in a red shirt. His output had many believing a second Premier League title was inevitable – and a Ballon d’Or nod just a matter of time.

That’s why Slot isn’t losing any sleep over his talisman’s dry spell.

With seven league games remaining, Liverpool need 11 points to guarantee the title – it’s a pretty much done deal barring a titanic collapse. But it’s also a task that  demands renewed focus after a chaotic first half at Fulham saw the hosts score three times in 14 minutes.

Slot rejected the idea that his team had grown complacent but sent a clear message to his players

“We have a week to prepare for West Ham and everyone has to be aware that the only we can win a game a football is through hard work for 90 minutes,” he said.

As Liverpool prepare for their next test against West Ham, all eyes will be on Salah to lead the charge again. And if Slot’s belief is anything to go by, it’s only a matter of time before the goals return.