Mark Lawrenson raises concerns over Mohamed Salah’s effort and form as Liverpool slump to a fourth straight defeat.
Mohamed Salah once again struggled in front of goal as Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield, extending their worrying run of poor results to four consecutive losses.
Bryan Mbeumo stunned the hosts by opening the scoring after just 63 seconds, leaving Liverpool chasing the game from the very start. Cody Gakpo later equalised with a close-range finish 12 minutes from time, raising hopes of a comeback. But Harry Maguire secured United a historic first win at Anfield since 2016, heading home a Bruno Fernandes cross just six minutes from time.
Salah’s own performance offered little solace. The Egyptian forward missed two clear-cut opportunities and has now gone seven Premier League games without a non-penalty goal—his longest such drought since arriving at Anfield.
For much of his career at Liverpool, fans would have erupted if Salah had been withdrawn late in a high-stakes match, especially against rivals Manchester United, against whom he has scored a record 16 goals. But on Sunday, his 85th-minute substitution for Jeremie Frimpong was met with acceptance rather than outrage a stark sign of the concern surrounding the 33-year-old’s form.
The Reds are now facing a difficult dilemma. Salah has rarely struggled to carry Liverpool through tough spells, but his inability to do so this season has left a void. With only two league goals to his name so far, doubts are beginning to emerge over whether he should remain a guaranteed starter.
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson spoke candidly on talkSPORT about Salah’s current struggles:
“Was he even playing yesterday?” Lawrenson joked. “He’s not been good enough. We are not worried by the fact he’s missed chances because that is the way he plays and the nature of his position. But you’ve got to work hard for the team, it’s not 10 teas and one coffee, it should be 11 teas. I shouldn’t really say this but you look at him now and he’s got his contract, is he comfortable? Is he really working hard enough to be in this team? You’d probably say no.”
He added: “You say it with trepidation as they have a game midweek and he’ll probably score a hat-trick or something, but as a manager, you have to have a conversation with him. You have to say ‘look, we need a little bit extra,’ but so too do most of the team in fairness.”
It is not uncommon for players to ease off after signing lucrative contracts, though Salah has historically shown himself to be highly driven. Yet there has been a noticeable drop in his productivity since putting pen to paper on his latest deal in April, with only five goals and four assists in 18 appearances.
Arne Slot now faces a pressing challenge in managing his forward line. Whether he continues to rely on Salah or rewards other attacking options, such as Chiesa, remains to be seen. Liverpool’s performances have been disjointed and inconsistent, with little sign of improvement, and the team sits four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
While Salah’s legacy at Anfield is secure, if he does not rediscover his shooting boots, his Liverpool career may end on a quieter note than fans would have hoped. The question is no longer whether he is a legend at the club, but whether he can still be the match-winner Liverpool desperately need.
