Arne Slot explains how Mohamed Salah's stunning form could impact talks over new Liverpool deal

Mohamed Salah's blistering form is making it harder for Liverpool to extend his contract, joked boss Arne Slot on Tuesday morning.

Salah has scored 30 goals and registered a further 21 assists this season in what represent staggering numbers – but the Egyptian is out of contract in the summer with no resolution yet reached.

Liverpool want to extend the deal but have not found an agreement, while Salah has gone on record numerous times saying he is keen to extend. And Slot joked that his talisman’s form is only strengthening Salah’s hand at the negotiating table.

‘You can look at it in both ways,’ said the Reds boss. ‘You can say the better he does the more expensive he might become and if he did really worse we would have second thoughts to extend his contract.

‘For everyone it is the best that he brings in the performances he does now, maybe only for the one who has to pay him it is not the best! For everyone else it is the best because if you want to play at this club you need to be at his level.

‘Otherwise you are almost useless to play at this club because we only need players that are at the top of their game.

Arne Slot jokingly admitted that Mo Salah's form is making a contract extension more difficult

Salah has been the best player in the league this season and his contract expires in the summer

'Because this is one of the best, or the best, club in the world to play for. He needs to have these performances for him to play here and hopefully to extend here.’

That was a rare occasion of Slot going on the record with his direct desire for Salah to extend his deal. Usually, he laughs at the questions about contracts and straight-bats them, much to the frustration of the fanbase.

Slot added that Salah is a top professional that sets the standards for the rest of the group.

‘What I see is a top professional,’ he said. ‘Not only what you see on the pitch but he comes in early, works so hard on his body.

‘Sometimes I get to see a few Instagrams and I think he works even at home as well! I think he has found the balance to get the best out of himself, that is what comes with experience and playing games at the highest level.

‘He knows what to do to treat his body in the best possible way for him to get the performances that he does.

'But he is not the only one, I see everyone in this building works so hard, the players first to get the best out of themselves but all the staff members work incredibly hard.

‘It is February and we have three pitches which are perfectly ready for us to train in the best circumstances.

Time is running out for Liverpool and Salah to agree terms on a new deal for the Egyptian

'It is not just about the players who put effort in to get the best out of themselves, it is the whole building and all the people who work here to get the best out of the players.’

Liverpool host Newcastle on Wednesday night and Slot has a relatively clean bill of health.

'Conor Bradley, though, will be out for several weeks due to a muscle injury and Joe Gomez is a long-term absentee after having hamstring surgery.