Cynthia Ezegwu
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has said Mohamed Salah should no longer be an automatic starter for Liverpool, citing the forward’s recent dip in form.
Carragher made the remark while speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast on Monday, following Liverpool’s 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United, where Salah missed two clear chances.
The Egyptian international has now gone seven Premier League games without scoring from open play — his longest drought since joining Liverpool in 2017.
Carragher said manager Arne Slot must now make tough decisions regarding Salah’s role in the team.
“I think we’re at that stage now where Mo Salah shouldn’t be a guaranteed starter every week,” he said. “This is a real conundrum for the manager going forward. Salah shouldn’t be like Virgil van Dijk — the first name on the team sheet.”
He advised that Salah should start home matches at Anfield, where Liverpool often dominate, but be rested for some away fixtures, especially given his current form.
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“Liverpool have got two away games — in the Champions League at Frankfurt and then Brentford in the Premier League. I don’t think Salah should start both,” Carragher added.
He noted that the 33-year-old must accept rotation as a natural part of ageing and declining performance.
“When you get to a certain age, you have to understand that. Especially when you’re not playing well — where’s your argument?” Carragher said.
Salah, who signed a two-year contract extension last season, has struggled to replicate his previous scoring consistency this campaign, prompting growing debate among fans and pundits about his role under Slot.