Arne Slot’s plan for Mohamed Salah shared by doctor amid Liverpool star’s struggles
Mohamed Salah has made a poor start to the new season for Liverpool so far.
Liverpool are on the ropes after a miserable week, which has seen them fall in the final minutes to Crystal Palace in a 2-1 defeat, followed by a controversial penalty that saw them lose 1-0 to Galatasaray on Tuesday.
Salah has endured a difficult start as well, scoring just three times in all competitions so far, and was dropped to the bench for the defeat to Galatasaray.
Salah has returned to the starting XI for the crunch tie with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but fans are wondering how long the Egyptian can keep going as Liverpool’s leading man.
Mohamed Salah set to be eased out of Liverpool side in the future
Liverpool have undergone an attacking makeover this summer, breaking the British transfer record twice with deals for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
The deals came as a surprise given how the Reds usually operate, with the pair considered to be elite players already, while the Merseysiders usually target young prospects to develop into world class talent.
Like Salah, neither Isak nor Wirtz have made the most impressive start so far, with the German coming under considerable criticism in particular after failing to register a goal involvement in his first eight competitive games for the Reds.
| Liverpool forwards this season | Mohamed Salah | Alexander Isak | Florian Wirtz |
| Appearances | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| Goals | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Assists | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Minutes played | 658 | 238 | 605 |
Speaking exclusively to Liverpool News, Dr Rajpal Brar has explained that although Salah’s fitness is still in top physical condition, Liverpool have acquired the likes of Wirtz and Isak to end the over-reliance on the Egyptian.
Dr Brar said: “Although he is getting older, his habits and commitment to fitness are in the 99th percentile, and he benefits from actually having off-seasons to rest and build up due to Egypt not partaking in the majority of national team tournaments.
“That being said, I think you may see Slot be more careful with him in some of the lower competitions so he doesn’t have to play three games every week.
I also imagine part of the reason they acquired players like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak is to take some of the responsibility off Salah’s shoulders as he ages.”
Liverpool cannot rely on Salah as much this season
At age 33, it is natural that Salah is going to begin to regress with age, as he loses that extra bit of pace and edge over defenders.
The Reds were extremely reliant on the Egyptian last season, and their form began to drop off when the goals dried up from their star man towards the end of the season.
Ultimately, Liverpool need to begin to phase away from the need for Salah to come and bail them out when they need a goal or a moment of magic, and his start to the new campaign has proved that.
That was why there was a need to bring in Isak in particular, as he is one of the few footballers in the world who is capable of taking the mantle of being Liverpool’s goal machine from the winger.
Wirtz, meanwhile, is one of the most technically gifted players on the planet, and his creativity can replace Salah’s when he eventually gets up to speed.
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