If not Salah, then who will help Liverpool win?

03/11/2025 21:36:00 soccer

Coach Arne Slot has prepared everything for parting ways with Mohamed Salah by bringing in a series of talented forwards like Ekitike and Isak, but Liverpool is not yet ready for that, especially after suffering four consecutive defeats.

1. Every team always needs their biggest star to shine at crucial moments. Salah has upheld that "tradition" perfectly to help the club temporarily halt their current decline.

The significance of a pivotal goal for The Kop’s title defense ambitions goes far beyond the mere statistics of goals scored by the 33-year-old striker for the English champions.

Liverpool ended their four-game losing streak in the Premier League, securing their first three points since September. They climbed to third place in the standings, and Arne Slot can conclude that the team is still on the right track.

However, clearly, the seeds of a crisis spreading at Anfield could not be resolved by the summer signings or by the Dutch coach’s ambition to "cut ties" with the past. Manchester City is gradually climbing out of the abyss thanks to Erling Haaland’s talent rather than players like Marmoush or Savinho.

2. The Norwegian striker’s goals this season prove this. Similarly, Liverpool will still have to survive or succeed relying on Salah. In theory, a football "legacy" will eventually be replaced over time. Barcelona continues without Leo Messi, and Real Madrid dominates the Champions League without Ronaldo and later Benzema.

Whether Arne Slot likes it or not, he still needs Salah’s goals

Salah’s 250th goal for the English champions in the win over Aston Villa further emphasizes The Kop’s dependence on the Egyptian forward. Let’s look at the technical factors: in the previous four consecutive losses, Slot’s team took 67 shots, created 18 big chances, with an expected goals (xG) total of 8.65, but actually scored only 4 goals, converting chances into goals at just 4.5%.

No expensive striker brought in during the summer scored, except defender Kerkez; Gakpo scored 2 goals, and Salah scored once in the 2-3 loss to Brentford, as well as opening the scoring in the Aston Villa win. This shows there are few ways for the Dutch coach to escape the "influence zone" of the 33-year-old striker.

When he regains his playing form, it immediately impacts Liverpool’s effectiveness and success. In this match, number 11 successfully dribbled 4 times, won 7 duels—more than any other forward teammate—touched the ball 5 times inside Aston Villa’s penalty area, made 1 key pass, took 3 shots, and scored a goal.

Arne Slot: 'I want to see Salah angry'

3. By any measure, Salah is one of the most important footballers in the history of the Reds, and no one doubts the player who has helped the club win the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and many other major trophies for nearly a decade.

From a long-term management perspective, Arne Slot’s "reform" of the football style will help Liverpool overcome personnel limitations, diversify tactics, and change is always the best way to develop or maintain success.

But he must also remember that the Egyptian striker contributed to 62% of the English champions’ goals in his first season at Anfield last year, ranking second in the level of impact a star can have on their team in Premier League history, equal to Alan Shearer with Blackburn in 95/96 and behind Matthew Le Tissier with Southampton in 93/94. The two legends did not win any trophies with their clubs those seasons, but Salah helped Liverpool win the Premier League for the second time in their history.

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