Should Liverpool be CONCERNED about Mo Salah's late-season drop-off? | OneFootball

Liverpool "on the beach"?

Now some observers may quite rightly point to the fact that the league title has long been secured - the Reds haven’t won any of the three games following confirmation of their title win.

Indeed Arne Slot has been spotted partying with Wayne Lineker in Ibiza while squad members took themselves off to the UAE last week. Liverpool have been metaphorically “on the beach” for quite some time.

But Salah has still had plenty to play for over the last few weeks - not to mention in the period before the title was decided.

With individual records within his grasp - and don’t discount his desire to chip away at Liverpool’s as well as the Premier League’s all-time goalscoring records - he’s dried up quite dramatically.

Slot was in forgiving mood on Monday night when Salah missed a gilt-edged chance in the Premier League defeat to Brighton. But that miss forms part of a broader pattern of late - and not just in the top flight.

Liverpool slipped out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage - losing over two legs to Paris Saint-Germain.

Salah was marked out of both legs by Nuno Mendes while the likes of Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia demonstrated what cutting-edge Champions League wingers are all about these days.

And in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle around the same time, Salah was anonymous.

© IMAGO - Mohamed Salah Richard Hughes Liverpool 2024-25

Salah not yet able to break season records

He broke a four-game scorless streak in the 5-1 home win against Tottenham which secured the title.

But before that the last time he scored from open play was against Manchester City in February. In fact, since netting two penalties against Southampton on March 3, Salah has only got one goal and one assist to his name.

If his efforts in the first 28 matchdays of the season (27 goals and 17 assists) were “un-human”, in the words of Slot, the run-in has been anything but.

Salah will no doubt have been motivated by the goal records in his grasp - not to mention equalling Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s Premier League seasonal assist record (20), but has been unable to achieve it. Albeit there is one game to go to make it up.

© IMAGO

Liverpool commit to massive Salah contract

Should we be worried? In the grand scheme of things, it’s no big deal. Salah’s played his part - and more - in Liverpool’s title win. And the league has long been decided.

But there are a few factors to consider here. Liverpool have recently committed to a £400k per week contract for Salah, who turns 33 in summer. That’s a massive outlay - unmatched for any attacker Salah’s age outside perhaps Saudi Arabia.

For that kind of money, Liverpool will be expecting a sizeable return - all season long.

In previous years, any kind of mini-slump has been explained by injury, by AFCON participation or by a fallout with Jurgen Klopp. This time, you cannot point to anything else other than the league title is wrapped.

It may prove to be a triviality in the fullness of time but Liverpool need the best of Salah on a consistent basis. The time will come to replace Salah but the money spent on his contract suggests Richard Hughes and Slot are standing by him.

He is their talisman, their leader in attack and their highest-ever earning player. Once the season gets back underway, he needs to be the dialled-in superstar we all expect him to be.