Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has made a stunning call for manager Arne Slot to drop star forward Mohamed Salah, claiming the Egyptian is currently offering the team nothing. This bold demand comes after Liverpool's dismal 3-0 defeat away to Manchester City on Sunday, a result that further damages their fading Premier League title defence.
Nicol's Blunt Assessment of Salah's Form
The heavy loss at the Etihad Stadium marked Liverpool's fifth defeat in just 11 league games this season, leaving the reigning champions languishing in eighth position. They now sit a worrying eight points behind early leaders Arsenal. While much of the squad is underperforming, the focus has sharpened on Salah, whose output has fallen dramatically from his usual game-changing standards.
Nicol, who won four league titles with Liverpool, argued passionately on ESPN FC that continuing to start Salah is counter-productive. "Yes I would [bench him]," Nicol stated when asked if he would drop the number 11. "You have to try and figure a way out to get him back to somewhere near his best. And so far, playing him and playing him and playing him isn't working."
He acknowledged a brief spark when Salah scored against Brentford and Aston Villa but insisted his overall performances have not improved. Nicol's solution is a radical one: "Now the only other thing you can do is sit him on the bench. Sit down, have a look, maybe a different perspective... unfortunately he's reached the stage now where the team can't carry him anymore. Simple as that."
The Statistical Evidence of a Struggle
The numbers behind Salah's season tell a clear story of decline. In his 11 Premier League appearances so far, he has managed just 4 goals and 2 assists. This is a significant drop from the prolific returns Liverpool fans have become accustomed to over the years.
Some have suggested that manager Arne Slot is persisting with Salah because the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will see him depart for international duty. However, Nicol dismissed this logic with characteristic bluntness. "Unfortunately there's an answer to that: What is the point? The guy is not giving you anything!" he exclaimed. "I need to be proactive here. I can't just sit on my hands and let it happen and hope and pray that all of a sudden somebody waves a magic wand and he becomes the Egyptian King again."
While Nicol exaggerated the potential absence, stating it could be 'two or three months', AFCON actually runs from December 21 to January 18. Given that Egypt are one of the favourites, a lengthy tournament run is possible.
Defensive Deficiencies Under the Spotlight
The criticism of Salah is not limited to his attacking output. His lack of defensive work has been highlighted as a major issue, especially when he isn't scoring. This was thrown into sharp relief during the Manchester City match, where young right-back Conor Bradley was repeatedly exposed by Jeremy Doku with little support from Salah ahead of him.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney analysed the game on Match of the Day and pinpointed the problem. "Salah is in the team to score goals and create goals. He's been one of the best players in the Premier League over the last six or seven years. But in big games, you have to double up," Rooney said. "You have to get back and help your teammate. Conor Bradley was having a really tough game today, to be left on his own... I think Salah has to come back and help his teammate."
This places manager Arne Slot in a difficult position. He did bench Salah for a Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt last month, a game Liverpool won 5-1. After that decision, Slot publicly backed his player, saying, "The main thing is that he always has scored goals for Liverpool... The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again." However, the pressure is now mounting for a more permanent change as Liverpool's season threatens to unravel.
