Liverpool legend Steve Nicholl has given his frank verdict on Arne Slott’s potential decision to Mohamed Salah ahead of their clash with Nottingham Forest after the international break.
Liverpool legend Steve Nicholl believes Arne Slott should drop Mohamed Salah after the Egyptian’s disappointing start to the season. Salah is one of Liverpool’s star players who has not hit his stride in the first few months of the new season.
The 33-year-old scored 29 goals in 38 Premier League games during the club’s title-winning campaign, but has been unable to match his heights this season. Slott’s side appear to have endured a trying period, with expensive new signings such as Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak failing to make a difference.
After 11 games, Liverpool are languishing in 8th place, eight points behind pacesetters Arsenal. Salah has five goals and three assists in 16 games this season, but the Egyptian international lacks his usual sharpness and edge.
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Asked if the slot should consider putting Salah on the bench, Nicol was candid. He told ESPN FC, “Yes, I would. The second part of the question is, for whom?”
“We have to figure out a way to get him back to near his best, and right now, playing with him, playing with him, it’s not working.
“I was excited when he scored a few goals in a few games (against Brentford and Aston Villa), but his overall performance hasn’t changed much apart from those two goals.
“All you can do now is sit him on the bench. Sit back and watch, maybe you’ll get a different perspective.”
“Then let’s play him in the next game and see if there’s any reaction. Unfortunately he’s reached the point where teams can’t use him anymore. It’s simple.”
Asked whether Slott would make the most of Salah’s playing time ahead of next month’s Africa Cup of Nations, Nicol gave a candid answer.
“Unfortunately, there’s no answer to that. What’s the point?” Nicole declared. “He won’t give you anything!”
“You could look at it the other way and say, ‘Well, he’s going to be gone for a few months, so maybe I should start thinking about something now. Why should I wait for a guy who’s not going to do anything for me? I have to be proactive here. I can’t just sit back and let things happen, hoping and praying that suddenly someone waves a magic wand and makes him King of Egypt again.'”
“I absolutely think he needs to do something and in my personal opinion, I would shut him up.”
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