Arne Slot believes Mohamed Salah's chances of winning this year's Ballon d'Or will be better if Liverpool win a trophy this season. 

Salah has been in sensational form for Liverpool this season, with the Egyptian notching his 40th and 41st goal contribution in the Premier League this season in the Reds' 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday. 

Indeed, he has now both scored and assisted a goal in 49 separate league matches in his career in Europe's big five leagues. Since Opta have this data available (from 2006-07), only eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi (102) and Cristiano Ronaldo (65), who has won the prestigious award five times, have done so more in those divisions.

Salah has also scored and assisted in 11 league games this season, extending the Premier League record and becoming the first player to do so in 11 matches in the top five European leagues since Messi for Barcelona in 2014-15.

Liverpool's win over Pep Guardiola's side put them 11 points clear at the Premier League summit, though second-placed Arsenal have a game in hand, while they have also reached the EFL Cup final and face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16. 

And Slot believes that Liverpool need to win a trophy this term to ensure Salah has the best possible chance of lifting the Ballon d'Or this year. 

"It's mostly about the tekkers, isn't it? It's a good thing that Mo is in the discussion because it means he is doing well, and we are doing well, but for him to stay in that discussion he should bring in the same performances as he's done for seven or eight months now," Slot said. 

"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 and in front of him.

"What I like is that he takes this challenge by not only scoring a big goal and a great assist against Man City, but he also wanted the team to win because his defensive work rate, especially in the second half, was outstanding.

"I think that is what it takes for us to have a chance of winning something and if we as a team can win something, he will have a far better chance to win the Ballon d'Or."

Ahead of facing Newcastle United at Anfield on Wednesday, Slot could not get away from the contract situation surrounding Salah's Liverpool future. 

Salah, along with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, will all see their deals expire on Merseyside this summer and speculation about their future with the club has been a consistent talking point throughout the season. 

"You can look at that in both ways, because the better he does the more expensive he may become, but if he was doing badly, we would be having second thoughts about extending his contract. I think for everyone it is the best that he brings in the performances he is doing now," Slot added. 

"Maybe for the one that has to pay him it isn't the best, but 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.

"We only need players that are at the top of their game because this is one of the best if not the best club in the world to play for. He needs to have these performances to play here and hopefully to extend here."