Mohamed Salah, long celebrated as Liverpool’s “Egyptian King,” is facing one of his toughest spells in recent memory as questions grow over his form and work rate. The forward’s lackluster performance in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea highlighted deeper concerns, with Salah missing several chances and showing little effort defensively.
Salah has failed to score in five of Liverpool’s seven Premier League matches this season, contributing just three goals and three assists across all competitions. The Reds have clearly suffered from his dip in influence, losing three matches in just eight days as Arsenal overtook them at the top of the table.
Why is Mohamed Salah’s form causing concern?
Beyond the statistics, what worried fans most was Salah’s visible lack of urgency at Stamford Bridge. With the forward offering little defensive cover, right-back Conor Bradley was left exposed and eventually substituted at halftime after struggling to contain Chelsea’s attack. The decisive moment came from Salah’s flank, as Marc Cucurella advanced freely to assist Estevao Willian’s stoppage-time winner.
“We know that Salah is always ready for the counter-attack so we practised that and the manager said that the space might be there,” Cucurella revealed after the match, confirming Chelsea’s tactical targeting of Liverpool’s right side.
Salah’s recent struggles trace back to the latter part of last season. After a strong run that earned him the Premier League Golden Boot with 29 goals, his output declined sharply, scoring only twice in his last 11 games across all competitions.
How are football legends reacting to Salah’s recent performances?
Wayne Rooney was blunt in his criticism, saying on the Wayne Rooney Show: “We know he doesn’t always get back and defend as much. But in the Chelsea game, his full-back is getting torn apart, and he’s watching. Over the last week, I’d question his work ethic.”
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy echoed the sentiment, noting, “It feels like Mohamed Salah’s lack of defensive work has become a little problem for Liverpool, especially against the better teams.”
Manager Arne Slot has admitted he’s still working to get Salah back to his best. Reflecting on his decision to bench Salah during the Champions League defeat to Galatasaray, Slot said, “That’s interesting. Did he create so much because he didn’t play during the week, or did he miss the chances because he missed a bit of sharpness? We will never know.”
For now, Slot is choosing patience, reminding critics that even Salah is human: “It’s not like every chance he gets is always a goal. We feel sometimes it is because of what he has done so many times. But yeah, he is a human being.”
Liverpool fans are hoping that their Egyptian King can soon rediscover his spark before the team’s early-season struggles deepen further.
By Yockshard Enyendi
