Is Mohamed Salah failing to lead by example at Liverpool?
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has criticized Mohamed Salah for his lack of leadership amid the team's poor form. Carragher believes Salah needs to step up and speak for the team, especially in the wake of their recent struggles. Read on for a detailed analysis of the situation.
Jamie Carragher has taken a fresh swipe at Mohamed Salah for supposedly not leading by example amid Liverpool's poor run of form. The Reds legend commended captain Virgil van Dijk for speaking to the media and demanding more from his team-mates. But the former Anfield favourite thinks Salah shouldn't shirk his responsibilities, especially after being vocal about his contract situation last season.This time last year, Carragher branded Salah as "selfish" for publicly expressing his disappointment at Liverpool not offering him a new deal.He said on Sky Sports: "The most important thing for Liverpool this season is not the future of Mo Salah, it's not the future of Virgil van Dijk and it's not the future of Trent Alexander-Arnold. The most important thing is Liverpool winning the Premier League. That is more important than any of those players, and if he continues to put comments out or his agent keeps putting cryptic tweets out, that's selfish, that's thinking about themselves and not the football club."The Egypt international bit back at Carragher but the feud eventually ended when the former Roma man signed a two-year deal at Anfield. Fast forward to the present, and the ex-England man has laid into the 33-year-old again in light of Liverpool dropping to 12th in the Premier League and losing six out of their last seven league games. Like Liverpool, Salah has struggled to make a telling impact for Arne Slot's team this season. The forward scored 34 goals last season but this term, he has just five goals in 17 matches. Following the Reds' 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, skipper Van Dijk said "everyone has to take responsibility" for their current malaise, and urged his team-mates to get the Merseyside outfit out of this mess. Now Carragher wants Salah to do something similar going forward.Before Manchester United's 1-0 loss to Everton on Monday, he said on Monday Night Football: "I think Virgil van Dijk, after the game, has come out again and spoke, as he should do as a captain, he's called Liverpool a mess. I must say, on the back of all these Liverpool defeats, it's always Virgil van Dijk who comes out. And as I said, the captain should do that, but there should be other players in that dressing room coming out and speaking for the club. A year ago this weekend, Mo Salah wasn't shy in coming out and speaking about his own situation, about the club not offering him a contract. I only ever hear Salah speak when he gets man of the match, or he needs a new contract. I'd like to see Mo Salah come out as one of the leaders, as one of the legends of Liverpool, come out and speak for the team. He shouldn't always be the captain. But, obviously, the manager is the one in the firing line. Any manager with results like that, as you said, if they were part of the bottom four or a promoter team, would be under pressure. So there's no doubt the manager is under pressure now with results like that, on the back of being champions, but also on the fact of what Liverpool spent in the summer."Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!While Slot was naturally disappointed with Liverpool's recent results, months on from spending more than £400 million on players this summer, he struck a defiant tone ahead of a busy run of games. The Dutchman added that a "solution" for the Reds could be within their grasp.When asked if his players are low on confidence, he replied: "I don't feel this, or I don't see this. After we go 1-0, we struggled. I tried to pump them up and give them the information to start the second half well. Immediately, they go 2-0 up. The players kept trying, I can't blame them for that. They blocked every shot we had. The solution is not that far away. We created chances in every and it's not as if we give away 10 chances. That will not go on forever but we have to look at ourselves and what we can do better when we concede a goal. Two games in a row, we haven't scored."Liverpool will hope to put the Forest loss behind them when they host PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday at Anfield. The Reds have had more joy in Europe's elite competition this season, so this may be the perfect game to reignite their campaign. After that, they face West Ham, Sunderland, Leeds United, and Inter Milan in the space of 10 days.
The Allegations Against Mohamed Salah
Jamie Carragher has once again targeted Mohamed Salah for what he perceives as a lack of leadership at Liverpool. Carragher commended Virgil van Dijk for stepping up and speaking out when needed, but feels that Salah has failed to do the same. The criticism stems from Salah's vocal comments about his contract situation last season and a perceived lack of public support for the team during their recent struggles.
Salah's Impact on the Field
Despite being one of Liverpool's key players in recent seasons, Salah has struggled to replicate his usual form this campaign. With just five goals in 17 matches, the Egyptian forward has not been as influential as in previous seasons. Carragher believes that Salah needs to not only perform on the field but also show leadership off it, especially during challenging times for the team.
Carragher's Call for Salah to Step Up
Jamie Carragher has called on Mohamed Salah to take on a more proactive leadership role within the Liverpool squad. He highlighted Virgil van Dijk's consistent willingness to speak out and demand more from his teammates, contrasting it with Salah's tendency to only speak up when he wins individual awards or wants a new contract. Carragher emphasized the importance of collective responsibility and vocal support for the team, particularly when results are not going their way.
Arne Slot's Perspective
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has expressed confidence in his players and believes that a solution to their recent struggles is within reach. Despite disappointing results and a lack of goals in recent games, Slot remains optimistic about his team's ability to turn things around. With a busy schedule ahead, including crucial matches in the Champions League and domestic competitions, Slot will be looking to instill belief and resilience in his squad.
Looking Ahead
As Liverpool prepare to face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League and a series of important fixtures in the coming days, all eyes will be on Mohamed Salah's response to the criticism leveled at him. Will Salah rise to the occasion, both on and off the field, to help propel his team out of their current slump? The next few matches could prove pivotal in defining Liverpool's season and Salah's role within the squad.
