Mohamed Salah’s Growing Discontent at Liverpool: What’s Behind the Frustration?

Liverpool’s struggles continue, as highlighted by their disappointing 1-1 draw against Sunderland at Anfield last night. The previous week’s victory against West Ham seems a distant memory. Coach Arne Slot opted to start without Mohamed Salah, relying instead on a forward quartet featuring Szoboszlai and Gakpo on the wings, with Wirtz supporting Isak. This strategy didn’t yield the desired results, leading to Salah’s introduction at halftime after he had remained on the bench for the entire last match.

However, Salah’s performance raised more concerns than hope. In 45 minutes, he failed to register a shot on target, missed three dribble attempts, lost four duels, and completed only one of five crosses. It appears he’s struggling and might be more suited to a substitute role at this point, a situation Slot described as unpleasant in a post-match press conference.

Slot’s Concerns Over Salah’s Bench Role

“It’s not pleasant for you, for any Liverpool supporter, or for me. He’s been a crucial player for us. We want to see him on the pitch, scoring goals, not just having the cameras focused on him when he’s not playing,” Slot remarked. He acknowledged that relying solely on Szoboszlai is not sustainable long-term, as placing him as a winger limits his strength as a central midfielder.

“Dominik can help out as a full-back or winger, but primarily, he’s a midfielder,” Slot noted. He’s struggling to find the right balance among the talent available. Salah’s situation is critical, especially since he will soon join his national team for his fifth AFCON, a title he has yet to win despite two finals. In England, there’s no attempt to link his current form with the upcoming continental competition and the need to reserve energy for international play.

Is It Salah’s Last Season?

The issue seems to run deeper, especially given Salah’s recent contract extension at a high price after winning another Premier League title and Player of the Year award. “You can sense that something has to give,” said Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports. “Salah will never accept a secondary role. The confidence is broken, especially with someone like him who requires support and trust from his manager,” he remarked, adding it might be “the season too far.”

Redknapp also raised the possibility of a swift departure in the upcoming months, having noted that the 33-year-old was pursued by clubs from Saudi Arabia last summer. “Whether it’s January or summer, if he finds the right clubs, he deserves the chance to leave if things don’t improve,” he stated, suggesting that the current situation is unlikely to end well for either party. Other commentators also align with this perspective, with Liverpool Echo highlighting Federico Chiesa’s late-game heroics, saving the team after a 70-meter sprint.

Will AFCON Benefit Salah?

“Chiesa’s actions were telling, sending a message to Salah and Liverpool,” the media commented. Before Salah departs for AFCON, Liverpool has three more matches with him. Will this “pause” be beneficial for him? The team could miss him, but it might also allow him to reset during the tournament in Morocco. Virgil van Dijk, who has enjoyed success with Salah at Liverpool, remains confident. “I need him as a leader. I’m not worried. He’s disappointed, which is normal. If he’s not upset about not playing two consecutive matches, then there’s a problem. We just have to move on,” he stated. This “moving on” hinges on anticipated improvements in Salah’s performance.