Alan Shearer makes honest Mohamed Salah point after Arne Slot's Liverpool U-turn

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Alan Shearer has observed an upturn in Mohamed Salah's work rate over recent matches as the forward aims to revive both his and Liverpool's campaign. The 33-year-old has contributed four assists and netted twice across his seven appearances since returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.

He departed for the competition just days after a candid interview that cast uncertainty over his Anfield future. However, that concern appears to have been resolved, judging by his displays since. Arne Slot commended him after the 3-0 FA Cup triumph over Brighton.

“It is very nice to have him on the scoresheet again but what I like the most is he is scoring goals you can almost expect, but he also helps the team a lot defensively and that is something very positive,” Slot said.

“What the team also needs and is much more capable of playing every three days at an intensity level and that is where we struggled at the start of the season and we see more and more the quality we have, so the future looks really bright and the recent seven, eight, nine and 10 games are showing that.”

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Slot isn't the only one who has apparently changed his assessment and recognised Salah's improved industry - the winger also earned plaudits from Shearer. The ex-Premier League striker highlighted him for particular praise on the Rest is Football podcast.

“Did you hear Arne Slot yesterday?” Shearer pondered. “He actually went out of his way, I think, to praise Mo Salah ’s work defensively, which I’ve noticed in the last couple of games where he’s doing a lot more work defensively than I’ve seen him do for a while.”

Salah was not the only Liverpool player who has impressed in recent weeks, with Dominik Szoboszlai impressively scoring in the win over Brighton . The midfielder, who has also been used at right-back, has been praised by both Micah Richards and Shearer.

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“Szoboszlai has took his game to the next level,” Richards said. “Whether he’s playing right back, centre mid, whether he’s playing number 10, he can play pretty much anywhere.

“His energy, his technique, his driving runs, I think he’s been their outstanding player this season."

Shearer added: “He’s had to fill in at right back as well this season hasn’t he? He’s a really good player, he’s got a great engine.”

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