Virgil van Dijk admits Mohamed Salah may have been affected by the discussion over his contract last season - but believes the Liverpool striker is again playing with "a free mind".
Salah was in outstanding form in the Community Shield win over Manchester City on Saturday, scoring a penalty and having a hand in the Reds' two other goals in a 3-1 triumph.
Having netted 27 goals by the end of February last season, the Egyptian scored only four times in Liverpool 's final 20 games after talk intensified over his Anfield future as he approached the final 12 months of his deal at the club.
