Jose Enrique believes Darwin Nunez’s style of play is hurting Mohamed Salah’s approach
Mohamed Salah, according to his own standards, had a tough run in front of goal up to the Rangers fixture this season. Prior to the Ibrox visit, he had five goals in 12 fixtures across all competitions this season.
Coming on in the 68th minute against the Rangers, Salah scored a hat-trick in just six minutes, in what became the fastest hat-trick in the history of the UEFA Champions League. What could be the difference between this game and other games Salah has featured in?
The distinction is very easy to understand. Ever since Darwin Nunez‘s introduction to the Liverpool front three, there came a new dynamic to Liverpool’s attack with a proper number 9. And because of that Salah could have tended to play a wider role than usual, reducing his efficiency in front of the goal.
Against the Rangers, Salah came on for the Uruguayan playing moreover around the centre-backs from a more central position and we saw him at his lethal usual. Former Liverpool full-back Jose Enrique believes that with Nunez’s inclusion, the new role is ‘killing’ Salah. (h/t The Express)
“In my opinion, the wingers used to be strikers really, close to the centre-backs, and Salah played yesterday [Wednesday] as a striker. But now with Darwin Nunez it has changed a little bit, he is the one who will run into the spaces and you have the wingers as being more open. For Luis Diaz this is helping him, because he’s that kind of winger, but it’s killing Salah.”
Is Nunez posing a threat to Salah?
For someone who is a natural goal-scorer like Salah, the fact that he tends to go wider would certainly not help his goalscoring ideas. With Nunez making the central runs, it could be a revelation to say that their styles of play do not suit each other, at least that is what Enrique believes.
But if that is the case, Salah should have been scoring when Nunez was not a part of the Playing XI. Since this has also not happened, one could just conclude that it was a minor blip in the Egyptian’s form, who is now hopefully back to his usual best.
Nevertheless, these are two players whose goal-scoring output could lead Liverpool to greater heights. Hence, the club should look to accommodate the duo and make sure that they do not have to let go of their natural instincts.
Gaffer Jurgen Klopp would certainly need all his players, including the duo of Nunez and Salah to perform at their absolute peaks this weekend when the Reds take on Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.
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With Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota also in good form, the spot for the centre-forward could be up for grabs. Who will start? We will know on Sunday.
