After Liverpool’s night to forget against Nottingham Forest at Anfield, we take a closer look at their main man, Mohamed Salah, who had an impressive start to the season. However, Nuno Espírito Santo’s men, with their vicious high pressing, managed to tame the Egyptian star.
Salah’s Struggles: Breaking Down What Went Wrong
The loss to the Garibaldis ended Arne Slot’s impressive unbeaten run and shattered his record of conceding zero goals.
Liverpool hadn’t lost at home to Nottingham Forest since 1969. However, Nuno Espírito Santo’s resilient side delivered a scrappy yet strong defensive display, handing Arne Slot his first competitive defeat as Liverpool manager.
Throughout the second half, Liverpool dominated possession and territory but struggled to break through Forest’s defense. In a thought provoking decision, Slot made a triple substitution, removing his best player, Mac Allister, while leaving the increasingly ineffective Mohamed Salah on the pitch.
“Frustration grows as Salah delays and delays on the edge of the box, before waiting so long that all in Red had made their run and were either offside or nowhere near the eventual dinked cross, which drifted harmlessly out of play – to groans from the Kop,”
Laura Hunter to Sky Sports
Salah’s in-game statistics were troubling for those hoping the Egyptian could continue his Premier League dominance, especially after his explosive interview where he stated this would be his final year.
The 32-year-old completed only 28 of his 40 pass attempts, created a single chance for his teammates, and won just one of his seven ground duels in a discouraging 90-minute display.
While some speculated that Salah’s performance was a result of the international break, others jokingly attributed it to the misfortune of Friday the 13th.
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Although a loss at Anfield after three superb performances may seem like a major setback, it’s important to remember that this is a new project for Slot. A new manager needs time to build the team. As fans, we can only wait and see how the team progresses.
