Alan Shearer Questions Mohamed Salah's Liverpool Starting Role Amidst Goal Drought
Premier League legend Alan Shearer has weighed in on a major decision facing Liverpool manager Arne Slot regarding star forward Mohamed Salah. Shearer openly questioned whether Salah currently deserves a place in Liverpool's starting line-up, suggesting that Slot might even consider dropping him following an impressive cameo from youngster Rio Ngumoha.
Salah's Performance Under Scrutiny
Shearer claims that Salah's performances this season have fallen well short of the exceptional standards he set in previous campaigns. Despite this, the Egyptian forward has still managed to contribute seven goals and eight assists across all competitions. Since returning from Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations campaign, Salah has registered two goals and four assists across eight appearances for Liverpool.
The situation came to a head during Liverpool's recent 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. With the match locked at 0-0, Slot made the surprising decision to substitute Salah, bringing on 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha for the final stages of the game. The teenager immediately caught the eye with his performance, and Liverpool found the winning goal with him on the pitch.
Shearer's Analysis of Liverpool's Situation
Reflecting on that crucial match while speaking to Betfair, Shearer provided his assessment: "It's been a really poor season up to now for Liverpool. But it has to be a good sign when they were as poor as they were last weekend against Forest and still came away winning the game."
"How many times have we said that the sign of a good team is winning when they're not playing well? That was a big win in more ways than one for Liverpool last weekend."
Shearer then turned his attention specifically to Salah's situation: "There is a question mark over Mo Salah and whether he deserves to be in the team or not. I guess we'll have to wait and see, but he hasn't been anywhere near what he has done in previous seasons."
The Ngumoha Factor and Managerial Dilemma
The emergence of 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha has added an intriguing dimension to this selection dilemma. Shearer acknowledged the teenager's talent while recognizing the delicate balance Slot must strike.
"Rio Ngumoha does look a talent, but there's a balance the manager has to get right," Shearer explained. "When you're knocking on the door that much, at some point, the manager has to let you loose but also protect you."
Shearer continued: "In terms of ability, there's no doubt he changed the game last weekend, and what that does is give his manager food for thought. But it would be a huge call to leave out one of Liverpool's greatest ever players for a youngster that's knocking on the door."
Slot's Support for Salah Continues
Despite the growing debate, Arne Slot shows no immediate indication of making such a dramatic decision. The Liverpool manager has publicly supported Salah ahead of the upcoming West Ham fixture.
Slot stated: "We are used to Mo scoring a lot of goals, and at this moment in time, that is maybe the biggest difference in his performance and game time. But we also know this has happened before. I don't know if it happened nine games in a row, but I've had these questions before: if he didn't score for three or five games. I know in the end he always starts scoring again."
The manager emphasized: "That is the challenge he has, and we have to make sure he starts scoring again. He is not our only attacker at this moment in time who doesn't score as much as we are used to."
Slot added what many consider the ultimate compliment to Salah's career achievements: "He set his own standards, and those are so, so, so high and the moment he doesn't score for a few games, people are immediately surprised - that is the biggest compliment he can get."
As Liverpool navigates what Shearer describes as a "really poor season," the decision regarding Salah's starting position represents one of the most significant tactical questions facing Arne Slot. With a talented youngster waiting in the wings and a club legend struggling to maintain his phenomenal scoring record, the coming weeks will reveal whether Slot maintains faith in his established star or makes the bold move that Shearer has suggested might be necessary.
