Mohamed Salah, visibly frustrated during a recent Premier League fixture, has been the subject of candid criticism from Liverpool legend Steve Nicol. Speaking to ESPN FC, Nicol suggested that Liverpool manager Arne Slot ought to consider omitting the Egyptian forward from the starting lineup, asserting, “the team can’t carry him anymore.”
Following a humbling 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Liverpool find themselves languishing in eighth place in the Premier League, a far cry from their title-winning exploits of last season. Salah, integral to those successes, has struggled to find his rhythm this term, managing only five goals in 16 appearances.
Nicol posits that the time has come for Slot to rotate his squad and grant another player an opportunity to shine. When pressed on whether he would bench Salah, Nicol stated, “Yes, I would. But the question is, for who? You need to devise a plan to help him rediscover his form, and constant play isn’t delivering that.”
Frustration has grown as Salah’s performances, save for brief flashes of brilliance against Brentford and Aston Villa, have failed to meet expectations. Nicol argues that perhaps a stint on the bench might provide Salah with a fresh perspective and spark a response.
Moreover, Nicol sees little merit in persisting with Salah given his looming absence for the Africa Cup of Nations, questioning, “What is the point? He’s offering you nothing currently.” Nicol calls for proactive measures rather than merely hoping for a revival of the ‘Egyptian King.’
In a critical period for the Merseyside club, Nicol’s advice comes as a stark reminder of the need for adaptability and bold decisions in pursuit of success. The message is clear: Salah may need to make way if Liverpool are to surge back up the table.