Mo Salah
Since Mohamed Salah joined Liverpool in 2017, he has consistently had Trent Alexander-Arnold as his right-back partner. However, this season marks a significant change as Alexander-Arnold moved to Real Madrid over the summer. Both Salah and Alexander-Arnold have struggled to secure regular starting positions in their respective teams. Salah’s recent form has drawn criticism, particularly after Liverpool’s 5-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, where he was sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The dip in his performance has not only been attributed to a goal drought but also to his diminishing influence on the field, leading to his benching during the Champions League match in Germany.
Theo Walcott explained: “You look who his full-back was, [it was] always Trent W.H.O. set it back and whipped it in. He never made runs behind Salah. Virgil van Dijk always had that cover and going on about Trent not being the best defensively, however, he made Virgil into a better player because he would delay it.”
Slot acknowledged: “It has been a difficult moment for all of us. No one is used to losing, for all the players that have played here for so many years, and even for the new players as well because we started the season with seven wins. But he’s been in promising positions often enough to score goals, maybe with Trent even more. But in general, if you have quite a few changes in the summer you have to find new connections. Mo is no exception to this.”
Salah has now gone six matches without scoring and has only managed one assist in that period. His attempts to find the net have been thwarted, as seen when Michael Zetterer made a crucial save during a recent match. The absence of Alexander-Arnold has seemingly affected Salah’s performance, as the duo had developed a strong understanding on the field. The transition to new right-back partnerships has not yet replicated the synergy Salah enjoyed with Alexander-Arnold, which has been a point of discussion among pundits and fans alike.
As Liverpool navigates this transitional phase, patience is being called for by the management and supporters. The team is in the process of integrating new players and establishing new connections on the pitch, which is crucial for Salah to regain his form. The upcoming fixtures will be pivotal for Salah as he aims to overcome his current challenges and re-establish his influence in the Liverpool squad.
About The Author
