Let’s explore the actual situation. Has Mohamed Salah truly been underperforming as some have suggested?
In reality, he has created the most chances (28), the second highest number of big chances (5), made the most passes into the penalty area (40), and registered the highest number of touches in the penalty area (105) for Liverpool this season.
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He ranks second in successful take-ons (19) and boasts the second highest goal tally (5) within the Liverpool squad.
Only Hugo Ekitike has found the net more often than Salah, and he’s arguably the only player who merits a spot ahead of Salah in the attack at this moment.
Anyone else starting before him does not deserve that position.
Moreover, the fact that Salah has been sidelined in two of Liverpool’s last three games is absurd.
You might argue that it’s due to his lack of pressing or defensive effort.
However, that would be misleading. Salah has matched Cody Gakpo with 43 recoveries this season. According to analysis by Hamzah Khalique-Loonat on X, Salah shows competency in pressing.
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In fact, he presses more frequently than Gakpo, who continues to be chosen over him.
The reality is that Salah is not the problem. He is indeed correct in feeling ‘thrown under the bus.’ That is precisely what is occurring.
Liverpool must confront and acknowledge the truth of the matter. Dropping Salah is merely a way to divert attention from the genuine issues plaguing the club.
And the core issue is that Slot is currently failing in his role.