Graeme Souness Delivers Blunt Verdict on Mohamed Salah's Liverpool Future
If doubts lingered about whether Mohamed Salah could recapture his electrifying form, Graeme Souness believes he has the definitive answer. The Liverpool legend contends that Salah's career has plummeted abruptly, urging the club to consider his departure despite a contract running until 2027.
'Falling Off a Cliff': Souness on Salah's Decline
'What happens, in my opinion and in my experience, is your career happens one of two ways. When you get to that sort of 33-34 age area, it's either falling off a cliff, or it's a slow decline. I think Salah is the former,' Souness told Daily Mail Sport.
He recalled watching the Community Shield against Crystal Palace and questioning Salah's performance, hoping it was merely a slow start. 'But he's never improved. His numbers tell you that. His numbers are way down, and he is the single biggest reason why Liverpool are having an indifferent season.'
Souness emphasised that during challenging periods, teams rely on star players to elevate performances, but Salah has failed to deliver, surprising supporters and staff alike.
Salah's Statistical Downturn Highlights the Issue
The 33-year-old's figures this season starkly contrast with his prolific past. With only 10 goals and nine assists across all competitions, totalling 19 goal involvements, Salah's output has dwindled significantly.
- At this stage last campaign, he had contributed to 44 goals.
- The previous season saw 34 goal involvements by this point.
- His lowest tally before this term was 27 in both 2018-19 and 2019-20.
'His best is behind him now, there’s no doubt about that. The first person to know that is yourself, and it happens to everyone. I don't see the same sparkle,' Souness stated, attributing Liverpool's inconsistent form largely to Salah's diminished returns.
Liverpool's Champions League Progress Fails to Impress
Despite Liverpool advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals by defeating Galatasaray, Souness remained unimpressed. 'I thought Galatasaray were exceptionally poor. I expected so much more from them. They didn't believe they could get a result,' he said, noting that Liverpool are not the formidable side of previous years.
Souness, who won three European Cups with Liverpool, acknowledged the victory but dismissed it as unconvincing against weak opposition.
Souness Backs Arsenal for Premier League Glory
Turning to the title race, Souness confidently predicted Arsenal will clinch the league, praising their pragmatic approach. 'I think Arsenal will win the league. They're a pragmatic team. They know how to win football matches, and it's not everyone's cup of tea.'
He dismissed concerns over their style, recalling his own successful teams that prioritised results over aesthetics. 'No one will remember how we did it. And will they evolve? Yeah. But they're not a team that the rest of the league enjoy playing against, because they'll test you to your limits.'
Critique of Arsenal's Set-Piece Tactics and Refereeing
Souness did not hold back in criticising Arsenal's set-piece strategies, overseen by Nicolas Jover. He argued that their effectiveness stems from fouling goalkeepers, a tactic he believes referees inadequately police.
'Arsenal get away with a hell of a lot by crowding goalkeepers and blocking goalkeepers. You block anyone on the pitch, anywhere else on the pitch – and that's a foul,' he asserted, blaming poor officiating for allowing such methods.
He mocked the term 'free-kick guru', simplifying Jover's role to instructing players to foul, while acknowledging the quality of deliveries from players like Declan Rice.
Chelsea's Directionless Approach Under Fire
Souness also expressed bewilderment at Chelsea's current state, describing them as a disjointed group lacking guidance. 'Chelsea are – I don’t know what they are. Chelsea are a group of young men put together with no real direction.'
He criticised manager Rosenior for overcomplicating his approach with jargon like 'assignments', suggesting it undermines his credibility. 'If the manager said that to me, I’d have laughed at him in his face. I just think he tries too hard to be a top coach.'
Souness concluded that Chelsea's Champions League exit was unsurprising given these issues.
Souness shared these insights through his partnership with Flutter's Cash4Clubs initiative, which donated £2,000 to grassroots side Easthouse Lily Miners FC and will distribute £500,000 in grants to 250 community clubs across the UK and Ireland.
