Having earned his desire to be recognized as one of the highest-paid players in the world, Mohamed Salah was expected to start strong with his Liverpool team, but that did not happen for one reason or another with the start of the new season.
And last summer, Salah’s negotiations with the Liverpool management ended, when the striker agreed to a new three-year contract to stay at Anfield.
Despite enjoying a rare summer vacation and scoring in Liverpool’s victory over rival Manchester City to win the Community Shield, Salah failed to reach the same level in the first weeks of the season.
In fact, the 30-year-old has scored just two goals in the league this season and is struggling to influence matches as he has in the past.
Salah may try hard to prove his right to a high salary, while Erling Haaland’s start with Manchester City may put additional pressure on his shoulders, as the player is used to seeing himself as the top scorer in the Premier League.
With Liverpool starting the worst ever in the league season under Klopp, expectations for this season may now be adjusted to become a rebuilding job, it is not yet known how the Egyptian international will play his role.
One of the reasons for Salah’s poor return is the new partnerships in both midfield and attack that need to be developed, as Salah is not only trying to build an understanding with midfielder Harvey Elliott on the right side of the Liverpool attack, but also with Darwin Nunez, who will occupy an unusual position on Liverpool, as a striker, is more concentrated inside the penalty area.
Meanwhile, he is no longer at Salah’s side, with Sadio Mane in the offensive line, a factor that cannot be underestimated in the current state of distress that the former is experiencing.
Preliminary numbers suggest that Salah is currently in a slump, although some would say this is an extension of his struggles in front of goal in the second half of last season.
And that could not be more contrasted with the start of last season when Salah was almost untouchable to the right of Liverpool’s attacking line, scoring nearly similar goals in the season at City Watford with mesmerizing individual dribbles, but this season he has been easily contained by players the likes of Terrell. Malacia, Matt Targett, and Vitaly Mikolenko.
While Salah is not at his best currently, he still contributes three goals and three assists in his eight matches in all competitions this season, while also creating his personal best of eight chances in Liverpool’s draw with Crystal Palace last month.
In fact, Salah is creating more chances on average this season, more than any previous season, with 24 chances he created from open play, 10 more than any other player so far this season.
Meanwhile, he also makes more passes into the opposition area than at any other time in his Reds career, which is likely reflected in his being only eighth on the list for total shots.
In the Champions League against Napoli (1-4), Salah performed poorly, to the point that he seemed somewhat satisfied after being substituted early in the second half, but he wants against Ajax on Tuesday evening, to change this reality, through an exemplary performance and an awaited return to visit netting.
