Mohamed Salah has failed to score in the last three matches in the Premier League for Liverpool and has only had four shots on target this season. However, the winger has created more open play chances than any player in the league.
In 261 appearances for Liverpool, Salah has scored 159 goals and provided 66 assists in all competitions. The majority of the goals came from the right wing.
Salah’s stats this season have made Liverpool struggle for points. They failed to beat Fulham, Manchester United, and Everton this season.
Why should Jurgen Klopp be blamed for the stats of Mohamed Salah this season?
Klopp’s last season’s formation was 4-3-3 with Sadio Mane, Diogo Jota, and Mohamed Salah being the players who led the attack. The manager made use of a false 9. Mane, Salah, and Jota were switching positions and dominating possession.
Robert Firmino and Divock Origi were Liverpool’s main strikers, but they watched from the bench in most of the matches.
With the introduction of Darwin Nunez as the main number nine in the squad, Mohamed Salah seems stuck on the right wing and cannot move into the 18-yard box to receive the ball because of the presence of Nunez.
The target now is to give Nunez the ball for him to score. This has severely curtailed Liverpool’s free-flowing style of play.
Jota is currently injured. If he is fit, the manager should return to his initial plan by starting Luis Diaz on the left wing, with Salah on the right wing and Jota playing in the number 9 position. This will allow Salah to move in freely.
Since late last season, Salah has been under heavy criticism. Many people claimed that his form had deteriorated since he went to the African Cup of Nations, where he failed to win the trophy for his country, Egypt.
Liverpool Legend, Graeme Souness had claimed that Salah is not the player he used to be while others believe that Klopp playing him as a wide player is messing up the Egyptian’s game.
Why Does Liverpool Need To Start Reacting?
The season is still fresh and alive, but Liverpool needs to react quickly to their poor performances before it’s too late. They lost countless players to injuries which forced them to panic and brought in Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus.
Bigger fixtures are coming their way, and the manager was appointed to win matches. They face Napoli in the Champions League on September 7, 2022.
After that, they will face Wolves in the Premier League on September 10, 2022. In a bid to get all the necessary points, Klopp must motivate and set up his team to benefit Mohamed Salah.
The title is still open to all teams and there remain 32 more matches to play. Liverpool can not afford to drop points again. Klopp needs to get his act right
