According to Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah was impacted by his contract situation in the later stages of last season.
Salah signed a new contract at Anfield last month at a whopping £350,000 per week, making him the club’s highest-paid player in history.
That put an end to months of speculation over the 30-year-future, old’s after he intimated that he would leave as his previous contract came to an end.
Despite ending last season as the Premier League’s joint-top goalscorer with Son Heung-min, Van Dijk believes Salah was harmed by the contract dispute.
“There was a lot of conversation about his contract and whatnot at the end of the season, maybe from April till the finish,” Van Dijk told The Telegraph.
“We’re all human beings, and I’m sure that affected him a little bit.”
Salah has 118 Premier League goals since his debut for Liverpool in 2017-18, which is 13 more than Harry Kane.
Salah, a former Chelsea striker, scored 27 goals in his first 31 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions last season, compared to four in his final 20.
He scored from the penalty spot in Saturday’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City, and Van Dijk believes he can continue to do so.
“He still showed good levels and talent, and he played with a free mentality,” the Dutchman added. “Obviously, he’s glad to be here, and I think everyone is happy to be here.”
“He’s been doing it for the last three years. He’s constantly being scrutinized. He made that himself. He’s a fantastic player who continually demonstrates it.”