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Liverpool currently sit at the top of the Premier League table but a glaring absence of electricity and fluidity in Mo Salah’s performances of late are lending reason to believe that the momentum is firmly with Manchester City.
One point separates the Reds from current champions Man City, and the injury sustained by Roberto Firmino against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon could have plunged them into an uncomfortable situation, although it remains unclear how long he will be sidelined for – if he misses any action at all.
Liverpool are struggling for goals as it is and, with Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge the only natural alternatives at centre-forward, it’s fair to say the inspiration is going to need to come from elsewhere.
During the peak of Liverpool’s form, Salah has been a reliable goal machine and chief tormentor for the opposition’s defensive unit, but a flat performance on Sunday proved the worst fears of the supporters: the Egyptian is a shadow of the player he was last season.
Enough is enough – Salah must grab the proverbial bull by the horns
That Salah has underachieved this season has been an opinion which has bubbled beneath the surface for the entirety of the campaign. Even when he has been finding the net on a regular basis, legitimate questions have been asked of his form.
What is most alarming about his form this season is that his most mediocre performances have arrived in the big games – the same fixtures in which he often thrived on his maiden campaign.
When Liverpool needed a moment of inspiration last season, Salah was there to provide it. One of his more memorable moments of divine inspiration arrived away at Manchester City in the Champions League, when he dinked the ball over Nicolas Otamendi to effectively seal their place in the semi-final.
His finish was taken with a level of sumptuous composure which had shades of Lionel Messi about it, and his ice-cool celebration in front of the travelling Liverpool supporters saw him transmit his insatiable appetite for the big occasion through his dead-eyed gaze.
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That particular mentality seems to have eluded him somewhat this season. Perhaps the tactical tweaks implemented by Klopp are to blame, but the top players in world football allow no excuse to justify a dip in form; they stand up to the pressure and prove their worth.
If Liverpool are to finally break their Premier League duck by finishing in top spot this season, Salah must take responsibility for his own form and single-handedly breathe life back into Liverpool’s club’s title challenge.
Failure to do so will pave the way for Pep Guardiola’s city slickers to retain their crown.
