A Slow Start Raises Familiar Concerns
Liverpool finds itself amidst a recurring narrative regarding Mohamed Salah, heightened this time by his sluggish beginning to the season. Last year marked the pinnacle of his individual performance at Liverpool, with an impressive 57 goal contributions across all competitions, not to mention a Premier League title, a Golden Boot, and the Playmaker award. Yet, despite this, he secured only fourth place in the Ballon d’Or voting, trailing behind winner Ousmane Dembele.
This season has witnessed a different rhythm, with Salah’s statistics decreasing alongside the overall effectiveness of Liverpool’s attacking line. Some analysts have suggested that age or the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s overlapping runs are to blame. However, it seems unjust to single out Salah, particularly when Liverpool itself has not yet regained its customary fluidity.
Darren Bent Backs Salah
Former Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has come forward to advocate for Salah, urging critics to recognize his consistency over multiple seasons. In a talkSPORT interview, he stated, “When comparing players, individuals often refer to Messi and Ronaldo—two of the greatest in football history. Some may place Salah in that conversation. I firmly believe he ranks among the greatest players in Premier League history, and that’s indisputable.”
Bent elaborated on Salah’s impressive scoring record since his arrival at Liverpool. “44, 27, 23, 31, 31, 30, 25, and 34 last year,” he highlighted, emphasizing Salah’s remarkable longevity. While acknowledging Salah’s age of 33, Bent remains optimistic, stating, “I expect him to surpass 30 goals in all competitions by the season’s end… that’s simply what he does.”
This serves as a reminder that elite strikers are evaluated based on their seasonal results, not week-by-week fluctuations. Salah has rarely gone through a season without making a significant impact.
Defensive Challenges Cloud Evaluation
During one of Salah’s quieter performances against Chelsea, he found it difficult to leave his mark. Marc Cucurella later disclosed that Chelsea had been instructed to concentrate their efforts on Liverpool’s right flank owing to Salah’s playing style. However, Bent challenged this notion.
“Looking at the Liverpool team that faced Chelsea, while the strategy was to exploit their right side, I’m focused more on the performances of Conor Bradley and Konate than Salah’s defensive contributions,” Bent explained. “Let’s be honest, Liverpool’s right-back position has been problematic, and both flanks have had issues. Additionally, this season, Konate has been notably inconsistent.”
Bent argued that teams generally opt to avoid challenging Virgil van Dijk and instead target younger or less reliable defenders. Hence, Salah is not the primary focus, but rather the defense is.
Goals Will Flow as Liverpool Finds Its Groove
Salah continues to be Liverpool’s most dependable goal scorer, with little indication that this will alter. Even during less prolific periods, he still manages to create game-changing moments. He is compared to legendary figures because he belongs in that elite circle. The ongoing discussions are less about decline and more about finding his rhythm.
As the fixture schedule ramps up, particularly with a match against Manchester United approaching, Liverpool will undoubtedly lean on their most reliable scorer. If Darren Bent’s insights hold true, surpassing the 30-goal mark is well within Salah’s capabilities.
