Arne Slot Faces Pressure to Make a Tough Decision on Mohamed Salah
Liverpool’s recent struggles in the Premier League have sparked intense debate, particularly regarding the performance of their star striker, Mohamed Salah. The Reds suffered a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City, marking their fifth loss in 11 league games and leaving them eighth in the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal. This loss has intensified scrutiny on the entire squad, with Salah at the center of the discussion.
Salah, who once dominated the Premier League with his goal-scoring prowess, is currently not performing at the level expected of him. His lack of consistent game-changing performances has raised questions about his form and contribution to the team. Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes it may be time for manager Arne Slot to consider benching Salah for a period, as repeated starts are not yielding the desired results.
Nicol, who won four top-flight titles with Liverpool, expressed his views on ESPN FC, stating that it’s crucial to find a way to get Salah back to his best form. “You have to try and figure a way out to get him back to somewhere near his best,” he said. “And so far, playing him and playing him and playing him isn’t working.”
Despite some positive moments, such as scoring goals against Brentford and Aston Villa, Salah’s overall performance hasn’t improved significantly. “I got excited when he scored a couple of goals in a couple of games, but his overall performance hasn’t really changed much other than those two goals,” Nicol added. He suggested that sitting Salah on the bench could provide a fresh perspective and potentially reignite his form.
Nicol also addressed the potential impact of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Salah’s availability. With the tournament set to take place in Morocco from December 21 to January 18, there were suggestions that Slot might be using Salah now to maximize his contributions before the break. However, Nicol questioned the logic behind this approach. “The guy is not giving you anything!” he replied. “Why am I going to wait on a guy who’s giving me nothing? I need to be proactive here.”
While Slot did bench Salah in a 5-1 Champions League win against Eintracht Frankfurt, he later insisted there were no concerns about the player’s form. “The main thing is that he always has scored goals for Liverpool,” Slot said before a 3-2 loss at Brentford. “The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again. He’s done that his entire life and I expect him to do that again in the upcoming weeks and months.”
However, criticism of Salah’s defensive work has also surfaced. Wayne Rooney highlighted the issue after right-back Conor Bradley struggled against Jeremy Doku during the match against Manchester City. “Salah is in the team to score goals and create goals. But in big games, you have to double up,” Rooney said on Match of the Day. “You have to get back and help your teammate. Conor Bradley was having a really tough game today, to be left on his own. Ryan Gravenberch was trying his best to help him and get over there, but then that leaves spaces in other positions. I think Salah has to come back and help his teammate.”
As Liverpool looks to regroup and regain their momentum, the pressure is mounting on Arne Slot to make the right decisions. Whether it’s through tactical adjustments or personnel changes, the manager must find a way to reinvigorate the team and restore confidence among fans. For Salah, the challenge is clear: return to the form that made him one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League or risk being sidelined for the remainder of the season.