Arne Slot has pinpointed what will strengthen Mohamed Salah’s Ballon d’Or bid.
The Liverpool forward continues to enjoy his most prolific season to date after racking up a 30th goal of the season in Sunday’s win over Manchester City.
Salah’s opening strike at the Etihad Stadium saw him equal Gordon Hodgson as Anfield’s third-highest goal scorer of all-time with 241 in all competitions.
His impressive haul, which also includes 21 direct assists, has heightened talk that the Egypt international could be a strong contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
But Slot believes the Reds’ talisman’s best hopes of being in the conversation for the award rests with helping his side deliver tangible success across this season.
He said: “It’s a good thing that Mo is in the discussion, because it means he does well and it means we are doing well.
“For him to stay in that discussion he should bring in the same performances as he’s done for seven or eight months now.
“But I think in general, someone who wins the Ballon d’Or needs to win something as well, so it’s a great challenge that is in front of us but also in front of him.
“What I liked a lot is that he takes this challenge not only by scoring a big goal and a great assist against City, but he also wanted the team to win, because his defensive work rate, especially in the second half, was outstanding.
“That is I think what it takes for us to have a chance of winning something.
“If we as a team can win something, he will have a far better chance to win an individual prize like the Ballon d’Or.”
Salah is currently set to become a free agent this summer with ongoing talks over a new deal with his representative Ramy Abbas Issa yet to deliver a breakthrough.
And Slot joked that the 32-year-old’s imperious form could prove a complication to the club’s owners Fenway Sports Group in their efforts to safeguard his future.
“You can look at that in both ways,” added the Liverpool head coach.
“You can say the better he does, the more expensive he might become, and if would do much worse we would have second thoughts that we want to extend his contract!
“I think for everyone it’s the best that he brings in the performances that he does now – maybe only for the one who has to pay him it’s not the best.
“For everyone else it’s the best, because if you want to play at this club you need to be at his level.
“Otherwise probably you are almost useless to play at this club, because we only need players that are at the top of their game, because this is one of the best clubs or the best club in the world to play for.
“So he needs to have these performances for him to play here and hopefully to extend here.”