Mohamed Salah meeting Arne Slot for first time goes down exactly how Liverpool fans hoped it would

A summer laced with international tournaments plays havoc with a club’s pre-season plans. It is even more problematic when a new head coach is appointed, as has been the case for Liverpool.

The Reds proudly sent 10 players to Euro 2024 and four to the Copa America. There is a good chance Liverpool will have representatives with the countries which win both competitions. It has left Arne Slot with a long wait to meet many key members of his new squad though.

He will watch England against Netherlands with a keen interest on Wednesday, and not just as a proud Dutchman hoping his nation reaches the final. Slot will likely see Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk in action, with other Liverpool players probably on the benches. But the 45-year-old has already met one of his main men today, with Mohamed Salah having reported for pre-season training.

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The implication from Slot’s first press conference was that he had already spoken with the Egyptian. He was asked about van Dijk and Salah, specifically regarding “the desire and hunger you felt in those conversations for them to keep performing for Liverpool and keep winning trophies here?”

"I think in general every top player wants to win. I assume, and I'm hoping, Virgil wants to win the Euros first! All these players want to win, they have the hunger to win. If you don't have that, you don't play for a club like Liverpool,” Slot said. “Did you sense a hunger to stay at Liverpool as well?,” he was then asked (via Liverpool FC). “I did, yeah,” the new head coach replied.

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This is a huge summer and season for Salah. He has begun the final 12 months of his existing contract, meaning 2024/25 could be his last campaign with the Reds.

Indeed, sporting director Richard Hughes has spoken about the club being ‘opportunistic’ in terms of signings, but could that also apply to sales? If a big money offer were to come in for Salah, Liverpool would have to consider accepting it in view of his age and contract situation.

But such talk can wait for another day. For now, Reds fans will be keen to know how their star forward and new head coach get along.

The photos which emerged from their first day together at the AXA Training Centre were very encouraging, with the pair sharing a hug and a laugh. As long as Slot keeps Salah in the Liverpool starting XI, the bonhomie should continue.

Salah was wanted to be part of Egypt's squad for the Olympics in Paris and was even set to be the flag bearer for the opening ceremony. But Liverpool was under no obligation to let him join up and denied him the call-up, as they did with Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo.

Yasser Idris, head of Egypt’s Olympic committee, said: "The flag bearer shouldn’t only be a football player, Salah is an exception due to his popularity in the country and worldwide and that’s why we were planning for him to do the honors if he was present."