EXCLUSIVE: Mohamed Salah’s critics have grown the loudest anyone can recall in the Egyptian’s time in the Premier League, but his form at Liverpool has been defended by a former Red
11:00, 18 Oct 2025Updated 11:04, 18 Oct 2025
Mohamed Salah
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Mohamed Salah's form has been explained(Image: Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah’s critics have been called ‘unbelievable’ by former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders.
Salah, 33, put an end to speculation surrounding his future at the end of last season when he signed a new two-year deal to remain at Anfield. While Reds fans revelled in the news, supporters of Premier League rivals were left fearing the worst.
The Egyptian’s dominance in the Premier League has been almost unmatched since he arrived from Roma in 2017, but for the first time in that spell, serious questions are being asked of Salah, who has just two goals in seven league games so far this season.
Salah’s only strikes in the top-flight this campaign have been a last minute goal against Bournemouth that ultimately didn’t impact the result, and an injury-time penalty to beat Burnley.
And his critics have been incredibly loud about his ability to affect games this season, and have even questioned his place in the squad as new British record signings Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz have so far failed to link up with him.
Florian Wirtz and Mohamed Salah
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Salah has failed to link up with Florian Wirtz since his British record move(Image: PA)
But former Reds and Wales striker Saunders came to the defence of Salah, arguing that the overhaul to the frontline this season and Slot’s changes have had a major impact on the Egyptian’s ability to be prolific.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sport, via Mighty Tips, Saunders said: “The question marks are starting to be thrown towards Salah, which is unbelievable.
“When Salah, (Sadio) Mane and (Roberto) Firmino played up top, the three midfield players they had in there, they had (Philippe) Coutinho in there to start with, and they were shipping goals. A bit like Wirtz.
“But then they went to (Georginio) Wijnaldum, Fabinho, (James) Milner, Jordan Henderson. So Henderson got that role of when Salah loses the ball, he doesn't have to run back.
Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah (C) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Liverpool's Senegalese striker Sadio Mane (L) and Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on June 24, 2020. (Photo by PHIL NOBLE / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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Salah, Mane and Firmino were a formidable front three(Image: PHIL NOBLE, POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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“’Can you do all this donkey work?’ And Henderson was quite happy to do that.
“All the players I just named, all unselfish players, sacrificed their own game knowing that they are three geniuses at the top of the pitch, and if you can save their legs running back, we'll do it.
“So when they lost the ball down the right, someone would move across, go and help Trent (Alexander-Arnold) or fill a gap in. And Salah's able to jog back because he needs it in his legs to do what he does.
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“So all of a sudden that stopped happening and now they say start to call Salah lazy, which he’s not, he's just been used to playing like that.”
Liverpool take on Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, the side Salah has scored the joint-most goals against with 16.