Something seems off with Mohamed Salah this season, and it’s not just his goal tally that’s raising eyebrows. Could the once-unstoppable Liverpool star be losing his spark? Jamie Carragher, a legend in his own right, thinks he’s pinpointed the reasons behind Salah’s uncharacteristic slump—and it’s not as simple as just a dip in form. But here’s where it gets controversial: Carragher isn’t blaming Salah alone. Instead, he highlights four key factors that have left the Egyptian forward looking like a shadow of his former self.
First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Salah’s emotional state. The tragic death of teammate Diogo Jota has clearly taken a toll, with Salah visibly moved by Liverpool fans’ tributes to the Portuguese star. Is it fair to expect peak performance when personal grief is so evident? Carragher thinks this emotional weight could be affecting Salah’s focus on the pitch. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about Salah’s mental state—it’s about the ripple effect it has on his gameplay.
Next up, the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid. Salah and Alexander-Arnold had a telepathic on-field connection honed over seven years. Now, Salah has had to adapt to playing with four different right-backs this season alone: Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai, and briefly, Wataru Endo. Can we really blame Salah for struggling to find his rhythm when his trusted partner is gone? Carragher argues that this disruption has fundamentally altered Liverpool’s style of play, leaving Salah isolated at times.
Then there’s the tactical shift under manager Arne Slot. Last season, Slot’s ‘risk and reward’ strategy allowed Salah to thrive, encouraging him to stay high up the pitch while relying on teammates like Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate to cover defensively. But this season, opponents seem to have cracked the code, exploiting Liverpool’s reshaped midfield and inconsistent full-back pairings. Is Slot’s new approach inadvertently exposing Salah’s weaknesses? It’s a bold question, but one worth asking.
Finally, Carragher points to Salah’s finishing—or lack thereof. Missed chances against Chelsea could have turned the tide for Liverpool, and the stats don’t lie: in his last 21 appearances, Salah has scored just five goals (two from penalties), a far cry from his previous 32 goals in 42 games. Is this a temporary slump, or is Salah’s best truly behind him? Carragher believes Salah’s ability to convert chances remains the biggest factor in his current form.
Salah has a chance to silence his critics this Sunday when Liverpool hosts Manchester United at Anfield. With 16 goals in this fixture—more than any other player for either club—this is his moment to shine. But the question remains: can he rediscover his magic, or is this the beginning of a new chapter in his career? Let us know what you think in the comments—is Salah’s decline a result of external factors, or is it time to accept that his peak years are over?
