Carragher urges Slot to bench Salah amid worrying Liverpool form

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has once again voiced concern over Mohamed Salah’s performances this season, suggesting that manager Arne Slot should consider leaving the Egyptian star on the bench in upcoming matches — particularly away from Anfield.

Salah featured in Liverpool’s 2–1 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday in the Premier League but failed to make an impact. The 33-year-old forward was substituted in the 85th minute, continuing his underwhelming run of form in recent weeks.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Carragher said:

“The focus should be on Isak and Wirtz because the club has spent big money on them, and they’re younger than Salah.”

The former defender continued:

“I love Salah, but when I watch him this season, I see a tactical issue — he doesn’t help the right-back defensively. I don’t think he’s lazy, but perhaps he no longer has the physical capacity to move up and down like a traditional winger.”

Carragher added that Liverpool may no longer be at a stage where Salah must start every match:

“I don’t think Salah should start the next two games against Frankfurt and Brentford. Maybe he can start at Anfield, where Liverpool dominate near the opposition box — that suits him. But away from home, he shouldn’t start every match because he neither supports the full-back nor provides the expected attacking spark.”

He concluded:

“Salah might not like being benched, but as he gets older, he needs to understand it — especially when his performances are below par. He only has the right to be upset if he’s scoring regularly and gets dropped for tactical reasons. Right now, that’s not the case.”

Negative record for Salah

Carragher’s comments reflect doubt surrounding Salah’s influence this season, as the Egyptian has managed just two league goals — and only one from open play — in what has been one of his slowest starts since joining Liverpool in 2017.

According to Sky Sports, Salah has now gone seven consecutive league matches without scoring from open play, the longest such drought of his Liverpool career.

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