Carragher Critiques Salah Amidst Liverpool’s Struggles

Last year, Jamie Carragher labeled Mohamed Salah as “selfish” for publicly voicing his disappointment over Liverpool’s failure to offer him a new contract. On Sky Sports, Carragher stated, “The most important thing for Liverpool this season is not the future of Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, or Trent Alexander-Arnold. The priority is for Liverpool to win the Premier League. That takes precedence over any individual player. If Salah continues to make comments or if his agent issues cryptic tweets, that reflects a self-centered mindset, rather than one focused on the club.”

Salah responded to Carragher’s remarks, but the tension subsided after he signed a two-year deal with the club. Fast forward to the present, and Carragher has once again criticized the 33-year-old in light of Liverpool’s recent drop to 12th place in the Premier League, following a series of six losses in their last seven league matches.

Like Liverpool, Salah has struggled to leave a significant mark this season. After scoring 34 goals last term, he has managed only five goals in 17 matches so far. Following Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, captain Van Dijk emphasized the need for everyone to take responsibility for the team’s current plight and urged his teammates to work together to rectify the situation. Carragher echoed this sentiment, calling on Salah to adopt a similar approach moving forward.

Before Manchester United’s 1-0 loss to Everton, Carragher added on Monday Night Football, “Virgil van Dijk has consistently stepped up following each Liverpool defeat, which is commendable for a captain. However, other players in that dressing room should also express their views for the club. A year ago, Mo Salah was vocal about his contract situation. Yet, I only hear from him after he earns a man-of-the-match award or when he seeks a new contract. I would like to see Mo Salah emerge as one of the leaders within the team, speaking out for Liverpool, rather than solely relying on the captain to do so. Clearly, the manager is facing pressure given the team’s poor results, especially following last season’s success and the significant investment made in new players this summer.”

Despite Liverpool’s disappointing performance, Manager Arne Slot remained resolute, reflecting on the club’s significant investment of over £400 million on players during the summer. He expressed a sense of determination ahead of a challenging fixture schedule, stating that a “solution” for their issues could be within reach.

When asked about his players’ confidence, Slot replied, “I don’t sense a lack of confidence. After going 1-0 down, we faced difficulties. I attempted to motivate the players and provide guidance to start the second half positively, but we quickly conceded a second goal. The players persisted, and I cannot fault their effort. We have been creating chances, and it’s not as if we are conceding numerous opportunities. This trend cannot continue indefinitely. We must focus on what we can improve defensively, particularly after conceding a goal. We have not scored in our last two matches.”

Liverpool will aim to overcome the defeat against Nottingham Forest as they prepare to host PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday at Anfield. The Reds have experienced greater success in European competition this season, making this match an ideal opportunity to revive their campaign. Following this, they will face West Ham, Sunderland, Leeds United, and Inter Milan within a span of ten days.