Mohamed Salah had another frustrating night in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Genk. But we saw exactly what’s needed for him to return to his best – time.
The Egyptian hasn’t found goals too easy to come by this season. By his standards, anyway, as he does have eight of them.
But a good few have been penalties and Salah has rarely proven to be decisive in games. It’s all a long way from his best, in all truth.
Sadio Mané’s incredible form has shone a light on Salah, too, and not a favourable one. He doesn’t look like the natural goalscorer of the last couple of years and that’s a problem.
We did see what’s needed to get Salah back to his best, though, and fortunately, it’s simple. He just needs time.
Salah struggled in front of goal but he was a real threat throughout. Defenders struggled to keep up with him, frequently doubled-up, and still couldn’t prevent him from having chances.
One chance curled wide, another he dragged, one more he just didn’t strike cleanly. In all, Salah just ‘didn’t have his shooting boots on’, to use an old cliché.
But the £34m signing kept going and didn’t hide. That’s key – goals will fall eventually for a player we know full well can score them if he continues to get in good positions.
In all, there isn’t too much to worry about with Salah. If he wasn’t threatening at all and merely sat on the fringes, of the game much like Daniel Sturridge would do, then there’d be a reason to worry.
Instead, Salah just looked like a player out of form against Genk. One who is doing the right things and just needs to have a bit more luck and a bit more focus. That’s something Jurgen Klopp highlighted last season when Salah had similar struggles.
Give him time and he’ll get back to his best once again.
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