Topic: Mohamed Salah - Best in the World *

[SerbianScouser]

It's nothing personal but our attack looks better without him atm. Saying he's in poor form is not an attack but Rawk eh?

Can I interest you in a fact that Mo scored 8 goals last 5 games at OT?

[MonsLibpool]

So you'd move someone who has finally got somewhere back to his best lately out of his best position, and bring in a player who has made Salah's last two performances look like Messi at times this season?

Yawn!

I've already said why and it's just an opinion that our attack looks better as a unit without him so you can state your opinion. That's why it's a forum.  I don't  pick the team so I don't get it LOL.

If you don't agree, that's fine. There's no rule that says you have to. This is not an echo chamber

[jason42]

I do not get the grief Mo gets on here from some posters. He is a fabulous player and put in some lovely passes that on another day if our players had gambled on Darwin reaching the ball would likely have resulted in goals or at least shots on target.
Yet some people expect him to be world class every minute of every game.
Yes he was pissed off to be subbed and I like that. I would rather him be pissed about coming off rather than being happy and joyful about it.

[PaleBlueDot]

He's clearly done, exactly the same way Robbo is. We need to offload the pair of them in the summer.

He's not "done". But he'll be 32 at the start of next season, and it will be harder and harder to keep the same level up.

I think subbing him was the right call as both his performances vs Brighton and today were sub-par. I did like one or two of his balls today but overall the team would have been better with him coming off.

Klopp made the right call and it paid off. Having said that Mo will be crucial to our run in and score some big goals thats for sure.

[Knight]

Gotta find a way to get him the ball closer to goal these days. Him often being our width against a low block is a complete waste of time.

[Gifted Right Foot]

A fired up Salah before the United game?  I like it. 

[lgvkarlos]

Gotta find a way to get him the ball closer to goal these days. Him often being our width against a low block is a complete waste of time.

Agree, he's doing very little out wide and certainly plays better closer to goal.

[farawayred]

I'd start Diaz on the right and Gakpo would come in.

It's nothing personal but our attack looks better without him atm. Saying he's in poor form is not an attack but Rawk eh?

One decent cameo from Gakpo, and here are shouts to start him ahead of Mo...

Sorry, mate, but that's nonsense. At the start of the game, Mo was a very good creator and had a few shot opportunities. His presence also occupies defenders more, leaving room for others. Salah is not in his best form and perhaps the fasting has some effect. But even in that form, he starts in the front three. And Darwin and Lucho are undroppable too, IMHO.

[MonsLibpool]

One decent cameo from Gakpo, and here are shouts to start him ahead of Mo...

Sorry, mate, but that's nonsense. At the start of the game, Mo was a very good creator and had a few shot opportunities. His presence also occupies defenders more, leaving room for others. Salah is not in his best form and perhaps the fasting has some effect. But even in that form, he starts in the front three. And Darwin and Lucho are undroppable too, IMHO.

Fair points.

[RedSince86]

Angry Salah on Sunday.

I'm expecting a brace.

[Mister Flip Flop]

Some of the over reactions here is funny. He's going to rip United of absolute bits on Sunday

[M7 Heckler]

He's clearly done, exactly the same way Robbo is. We need to offload the pair of them in the summer.

Ha

[HeartAndSoul]

Think he’s now at the stage where he can no longer play 2 games in a week at the same high level he used to. Probably best starting him in the tougher one and bringing him on for 20-25 mins in the other game

[G Richards]

Great player, not his day today. Our manager, a consummate leader, subbed him off. Many managers would avoid that decision, so well done Jurgen. Salah not so happy with that, but that’s ok, as he would have thought he was about to make a game winning contribution, just a matter of time until it clicked… All top strikers are the same.

Salah will probably start against Man Utd and if he is fired up and we get a few extra percent because of it, bring it on!

[WhereAngelsPlay]

We just lost a goal, he's bound to be pissed off. I bet that he knew before the game started that he'd be getting subbed when he did, got United and Europe to worry about.

[jason42]

We just lost a goal, he's bound to be pissed off. I bet that he knew before the game started that he'd be getting subbed when he did, got United and Europe to worry about.

Exactly mate.

Some of the shite posted about Mo is frankly bizarre.

[duvva 💅]

You only need a bad half and your career is up these days

Not even sure he was that bad

[jason42]

You only need a bad half and your career is up these days

Not even sure he was that bad

Seconded.

[stockdam]

Hopefully he’ll be pissed off against United and will destroy them.

[Pistolero]

With the Mancs up next I'm glad he was subbed...pissed off Mo > happy Mo ....a scowl and a point to prove is the ideal recipe....

[thaddeus]

We just lost a goal, he's bound to be pissed off. I bet that he knew before the game started that he'd be getting subbed when he did, got United and Europe to worry about.

Exactly that.  The substitutions on the hour mark are rarely tactical, they always seem to be pre-planned and about managing minutes of players.

Grav and Mo have both recently returned from injuries and they were the two that were taken off on the hour mark.

If Mo had come off smiling just after we'd conceded an equaliser then he'd have got pelters on here.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

I doubt his inner monologue was about the substitution or maybe the Boss is trying to force him out.

[farawayred]

He's clearly done, exactly the same way Robbo is. We need to offload the pair of them in the summer.

You're forgetting to add Van Dijk to that list.

[fancy lad]

We just lost a goal, he's bound to be pissed off. I bet that he knew before the game started that he'd be getting subbed when he did, got United and Europe to worry about.

I don’t get what all the fuss is about . Of course he was pissed.  He’s mo salah and wants to play a full 90 all the time. How did people think he would react at getting subbed off? 

It just shows how hungry and competitive a player he is. I love it.

[amir87]

Mad how we’re top considering the fact we’re littered with shit players that we should get rid of.

[WhereAngelsPlay]

Mad how we’re top considering the fact we’re littered with shit players that we should get rid of.

And booting our manager before his contract is up.

[duvva 💅]

Has Mo ever looked anything other than completely pissed when subbed. It’s a non story

[MonsLibpool]

https://x.com/tashaaa2000/status/1775995676301693040

It's all about the team.

[FlashGordon]

That was one of his more subdued reactions to being subbed off in fairness 

[farawayred]

https://x.com/tashaaa2000/status/1775995676301693040

It's all about the team.

Nah, that was a "That should have been me!" reaction...

[newterp]

Nah, that was a "That should have been me!" reaction...

Why do you think he pulled the hood over his face?

It's a classic meme on the internet with the happy face but behind the guy is fuming and crying.

[Bobsackamano]

Mo is second in the league for Goals and assists combined, 1 assist behind a player that has played 6 more games. He's had a couple of off days lately, so fucking what?

Maybe he's not into full swing after his injury, maybe he's having a bit of adjustment to Ramadan or maybe he's just like every other player who's ever played the game (with the possible exception of Messi) and has ups and down in form.

He's an elite player, there isn't that many at his level, you find solutions, you don't drop them for players not even vaguely on the same level.

[PaulF]

Mo is second in the league for Goals and assists combined, 1 assist behind a player that has played 6 more games. He's had a couple of off days lately, so fucking what?

Maybe he's not into full swing after his injury, maybe he's having a bit of adjustment to Ramadan or maybe he's just like every other player who's ever played the game (with the possible exception of Messi) and has ups and down in form.

He's an elite player, there isn't that many at his level, you find solutions, you don't drop them for players not even vaguely on the same level.

Messi probably has off days. We just don't frequent mauve and blue kop.
,
Thing is, for me, salah swings between unplayable and major threat.  An off day for him and defenders are always having to watch out for him. His numbers are just so good, that he can have his worst game of the season and there's still a decent chance of him grabbing the winner, or stalemate breaking goal. Anyone coming in has to be on a good day, to rival his bad days.

[Mister Flip Flop]

I'd be more concerned if he wasn't pissed being subbed off. Shows how committed he is to the cause. My god he's going to tear that United defence a new one on Sunday you'd almost feel sorry for them 

[jepovic]

Mo is second in the league for Goals and assists combined, 1 assist behind a player that has played 6 more games. He's had a couple of off days lately, so fucking what?

Maybe he's not into full swing after his injury, maybe he's having a bit of adjustment to Ramadan or maybe he's just like every other player who's ever played the game (with the possible exception of Messi) and has ups and down in form.

He's an elite player, there isn't that many at his level, you find solutions, you don't drop them for players not even vaguely on the same level.

He's being compared with the prime version of himself, who was an insane player. He's still a great player though.

[MonsLibpool]

Messi probably has off days. We just don't frequent mauve and blue kop.
,
Thing is, for me, salah swings between unplayable and major threat.  An off day for him and defenders are always having to watch out for him. His numbers are just so good, that he can have his worst game of the season and there's still a decent chance of him grabbing the winner, or stalemate breaking goal. Anyone coming in has to be on a good day, to rival his bad days.

It's impossible for anyone to play well all the time. Even Pele.

Our other attackers could take more responsibility and not overrely on Mo. They are top players too. It's like they are in his shadow at times and it's easy to pass it off to him in big pressure games. We had the same issue with Coutinho. We're just more predictable which shouldn't be the case but it's fine when he's in top form which he won't always be in.

That's the point I was making yesterday because anything short of "he was brilliant" is automatically a personal attack for some or it means he's "finished". It's a team game and no player can be amazing all the time. If one player has an off game, others can step up. That's the actual point being a team but we're playing as if we expext him to be amazing all the time.

[SamLad]

not following the whole thread but if anyone is saying Mo shouldn't start on Sunday, they need to give their head a sharp shake.

[PaleBlueDot]

He was crap.  But I suspect it won't last long.

In the interest of a debate, have we looked a better team without him at times this season?  The period with Nunez/Jota/Diaz/Gakpo all available we were absolutely flying.

The reality is a bit like this...if Salah is having an off day its absolutely amplified because our players gravitate towards him because he's Mo Salah. When he is not on the pitch there is no burden of having a superstar ahead of you waiting for the ball so it gets a bit more mixed up and unpredictable. Players play with a bit more responsibility without him.

Having said that our best attack is with Mo Salah starting and just not being awful. He's not been great vs Brighton/Sheffield but he will bang them in during the run in. Starting on Sunday!

[PaulF]

It's impossible for anyone to play well all the time. Even Pele.

Our other attackers could take more responsibility and not overrely on Mo. They are top players too. It's like they are in his shadow at times and it's easy to pass it off to him in big pressure games. We had the same issue with Coutinho. We're just more predictable which shouldn't be the case but it's fine when he's in top form which he won't always be in.

That's the point I was making yesterday because anything short of "he was brilliant" is automatically a personal attack for some or it means he's "finished". It's a team game and no player can be amazing all the time. If one player has an off game, others can step up. That's the actual point being a team but we're playing as if we expext him to be amazing all the time.

Fair point.You're essentially saying, that other player play with more freedom when Salah isn't on the pitch.  And that gain is more than what we get when a sub-par Salah is on.
Can argue till the cows come home how sub-par he needs to be, but it's a point that can't be dismissed out of hand.

[stewy17]

You would have to be out of your fucking mind to not play Mo Salah away at Old Trafford. Like fully playing bongos with your undies on your head and pencils up your nose shouting wibble kind of out of your mind.