Liverpool Faces Challenges Amid Salah’s Struggles
Liverpool’s season has taken a puzzling turn. Just two weeks ago, they were leading the Premier League with an undefeated record and appeared on track for a strong campaign. They had amassed a five-point advantage over their nearest rival, an early lead previously seen only once in league history.
Yet, there has been a notable sense of unease surrounding the club. Many of their victories have come from late goals, with recent wins in the Champions League and Carabao Cup secured with strikes in the dying moments of the matches.
Unfortunately for Liverpool, the trend of last-minute heroics has faltered. The team has suffered consecutive Premier League defeats, with goals conceded in the dying moments of both games. In a stark contrast to last season, where they lost just two league matches before clinching the title, they are now facing pressure after a 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, marking their first trio of consecutive defeats since 2023. Manager Arne Slot is also experiencing a first in his career with three straight losses.
Slot has been actively seeking solutions, but the need for adjustment became apparent even before the recent downturn began. Despite a series of initial successes, he altered tactics significantly during the loss to Crystal Palace. In that match, he placed Dominik Szoboszlai, traditionally an attacking midfielder, in a defensive position, while new signing Jeremie Frimpong operated further forward. In the latest loss to Chelsea, Slot opted to bench Florian Wirtz, the club’s record acquisition from Bayer Leverkusen.
Salah’s form has raised eyebrows, particularly given his performance data that suggests a decline in overall output. Although his running patterns remain consistent, including around 20 sprints per game, his maximum speed has dipped slightly compared to previous seasons. While he remains competitive, the drop-off has impacted his goal involvement.
A glaring factor in Salah’s struggles appears to be Liverpool’s decrease in ball touches in the attacking third. This is reflective of a broader trend in the Premier League where teams are making concerted efforts to limit the attacking opportunities of top clubs. Liverpool is currently averaging 185 touches in the final third, a significant drop from the 215 they maintained during Salah’s tenure at the club.
Furthermore, the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who formed a potent partnership with Salah, has disrupted their offensive synergy. Together, they created numerous scoring opportunities, and without that connection, Salah has found it challenging to replicate past performances. Even as other players like Cody Gakpo have emerged, their interplay has yet to yield results as fruitful as before.
Currently, the attacking contributions have shifted, with new combinations failing to gel. Wirtz, who was expected to bridge the gap left by Alexander-Arnold and Szoboszlai, has not yet found his rhythm alongside Salah. The new dynamics have led to a lack of goal involvement for Salah, who shared an inspiring partnership with Alexander-Arnold.
The transition to incorporating new players and redefining roles takes time, and with only a small number of passes exchanged between Salah and Wirtz, the potential for their partnership to blossom remains largely untapped. As they move forward, it is essential for Liverpool to navigate these shifts carefully to return to their winning ways and harness the attacking prowess they once had.
Ultimately, the performance of Salah and his ability to connect with Wirtz will be crucial for Liverpool’s success as they aim to rediscover the attacking rhythm that propelled them to the top of the league last season.
n
