Mohamed Salah’s barren run in-front of goal is a consequence of his wider poor form for Liverpool.
That’s the view of former Reds defender Mark Lawrenson. Speaking to TalkSPORT today, the pundit analysed why Salah has been struggling to find the net for Liverpool of late.
“It’s unusual for him [Salah]. I think one of the problems is that he’s playing with different strikers every week and in different formations,” Lawrenson suggested.
“The thing with him is that he needs to be happy to play and you can see it on his face. He’s a bit like, ‘What’s happening here?’ Consequently with them not playing particularly well, he’s not had too much of service – you don’t suddenly become a bad player.
“People think it’s because he’s signed a new contract and that sort of thing. It’s nothing to do with that. It’s just that he’s not been playing well and consequently, he hasn’t had too many opportunities.”
With three goals in his last eight, Salah’s barren run hasn’t actually been all that barren. But he hasn’t been turning up when Liverpool have needed him the most. Fingers crossed he gets back on the scoresheet tomorrow.
We want our Egyptian King back
Given the greater struggles of some of those around him, Salah’s form has gone a little under the radar this season.
Despite him not being at his best though, he’s still plundered 17 goals for the Reds. With only two penalties in amongst that, it isn’t a bad record at all.
So then, why does it feel as though the Egyptian has barely scored? Well, it probably has something to do with the fact that he really doesn’t get into games anymore.
Salah is so often crowded out by opposition defenders that you’ll barely notice him over 90 minutes. With Darwin Nunez now looking like Liverpool’s best threat, Salah can go huge periods in games without being involved.
That isn’t the Mohamed Salah we’ve become used to. Ever since his £35m arrival the 30-year-old has been the Reds main attacking weapon. Perhaps without his mates Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino he hasn’t quite found his rhythm.
Hopefully he can rediscover some kind of form soon. At his best, he’s still one of the most feared players in Europe. He hasn’t hit those heights for pushing a year now. We want our Egyptian King back.