Assessing Mohamed Salah’s Challenges and Future at Liverpool

omidbasir- Following an impressive Premier League title-winning campaign, Mohamed Salah’s relationship with Liverpool and coach Arne Slot has become strained. Salah expressed feelings of betrayal after being benched during the recent 3-3 draw against Leeds in December, contributing to a dip in form where he has netted just five goals in 22 appearances. This decline has coincided with Liverpool’s own struggles, leaving them in sixth place in the league.

Liverpool legend Gary McAllister has conducted a thorough analysis of Salah’s difficulties in maintaining his exceptional performance levels this season, attributing it to the breakdown of his previously strong partnership with Trent Alexander-Arnold. McAllister notes that Salah has been left isolated since Alexander-Arnold’s transfer to Real Madrid, losing the one player who had an innate understanding of his movement on the field.

In an interview with OLBG, McAllister emphasized that the unique tactical chemistry between Salah and Alexander-Arnold had been the driving force behind Liverpool’s attack for many years. With Alexander-Arnold no longer supplying precision passes, Salah’s performance has understandably suffered.

“The loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold has been significant for Mo,” McAllister stated. “Their combination on the right side, where Mo would often cut inside and Trent would push high and wide, has disappeared. They had an exceptional understanding of each other’s movements. Whenever Mo looked to make a run behind the defense, Trent was the one who could deliver the critical pass. Salah has indeed suffered from this loss, and it’s been a year marked by inconsistency.”

In light of Alexander-Arnold’s departure, Liverpool has turned to Jeremie Frimpong and academy graduate Conor Bradley to fill the right flank’s void. While both players bring substantial talent and speed, McAllister cautions that it is unrealistic to expect them to instantly replicate the deep-rooted understanding that Salah shared with his former teammate.

Establishing new partnerships takes time, and the inconsistency that Salah is experiencing this year is a natural result of this transitional phase. The new dynamic necessitates that Salah adjust his runs and timing, while his new full-backs must learn the subtleties of when to overlap or underlap his movements.

“That’s not to say that Connor Bradley or Frimpong can’t eventually form a productive relationship with Mo, but that requires time and effort, as Trent and Mo had a uniquely special connection,” McAllister added.

Despite the challenges posed by a changing supply line, McAllister acknowledges that Salah’s individual performance levels have dipped below the exceptionally high standards he has maintained since joining Liverpool. The former midfielder believes Salah, a highly competitive athlete with an elite mentality, would be the first to admit that his performances have not met expectations during the current season.

“After the remarkable season he had last year, where Mo was particularly outstanding, his goal-scoring, assists, and overall statistics were exceptional,” McAllister remarked. “He is undoubtedly a top player, but he would readily acknowledge that he has not had a great season and has faced his own inconsistency.”

As discussions around Salah’s future intensify, speculation about a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia has resurfaced. This speculation is fueled by what McAllister describes as a “minor fallout” with coach Slot, leading to conjectures that Salah’s time at Anfield may be nearing its end.

Nevertheless, McAllister has advised Salah to resist the temptation to leave Europe. He firmly believes that despite his age and current struggles, Salah remains physically elite and possesses the quality necessary to continue making an impact in the Premier League.

“I know there’s been talk of Mo potentially moving to Saudi Arabia, and we’ve seen some tension as well, but I still believe he has too much to offer,” McAllister asserted. “While he may not be the youngest anymore, he is certainly not old. He still has the potential to be a significant performer for Liverpool.”