Mo Salah has a new role at Liverpool under Arne Slot, which Pep Guardiola would adore

Arne Slot, the manager of Liverpool, must choose where to start Mohamed Salah.

Based on his play at Feyenoord, Arne Slot may use Mohamed Salah as a false nine against Liverpool. How the next Reds manager will employ club star Salah in the upcoming campaign has been widely discussed.

Despite positional maps showing him as the player furthest forward most of the time, the Egyptian played on the right in a front three throughout the most of Jurgen Klopp’s tenure. Salah’s ability to cut inside onto his stronger right foot while playing on the right side of the pitch was crucial to many of his Liverpool goals.

Throughout his career, Salah has also played through the middle of the attack and on the left. He might find himself under Slot in the middle.

The 45-year-old has a tendency to like quick wingers who were positioned high and wide at Feyenoord. Salah’s performances might suffer if he is used in this capacity, which would keep him from entering the game.

Instead of not using Salah at all, Slot may determine that the 32-year-old’s best position is in the middle of the front three. Because of his experience, skill at mobility, and link-up play, he is a perfect fit for the role that Roberto Firmino held at Anfield in the past.

Liverpool’s wingers would be able to outpace Salah if he dropped deeper to gain possession. Cody Gakpo’s outstanding results for the Netherlands at Euro 2024 nearly guarantee him a starting position on the left.

During his tenure at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola popularised the false nine role by positioning Lionel Messi to allow him to move freely while the wingers stayed high and wide.

Salah’s potential transfer inside could explain why Liverpool has been connected to multiple wingers this summer. Both Takefusa Kubo and Nico Williams are said to be attractive to the Premier League team.

Williams has a £49 million release clause and might depart Athletic Bilbao this summer. Other Premier League teams and elite teams from throughout Europe, notably Barcelona, are also interested in Spain’s Euro 2024 hero.

Though such rumours seem to have been premature, reports in the Japanese media stated that Liverpool was getting closer to making a move for the quick-witted Real Sociedad player Kubo. Liverpool already has players who can play out wide in Salah, Gakpo, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz.

One particularly interesting plot point to watch will be how Liverpool line up under Slot this season. He may not go too far from his predecessor’s 4-3-3 shape and has pledged development from the Klopp era rather than revolution.