Former Everton defender Joleon Lescott has issued his verdict on whether Arne Slot should drop Mohamed Salah as called for by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher
Joleon Lescott speaks on In The Mixer
Joleon Lescott does not think Mohamed Salah should be dropped at Liverpool
View 3 Images
Joleon Lescott doesn't think Arne Slot should drop Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. The ex-Everton ace disagrees with Reds icon Jamie Carragher, who has called for the Egyptian to be benched.
Salah has been talismanic for Liverpool in recent years and was shown faith with a two-year contract extension in April. But the 33-year-old has not started the current season well by his lofty standards.
He has bagged just two Premier League goals in eight games and added just one in the Champions League. Salah was noticeably sub-par in the Reds' 2-1 loss against Manchester United last weekend.
Calls for him to be dropped to the bench have loudened and Liverpool hero Carragher has doubled down on his opinion that the Egyptian should see reduced minutes. But Lescott, who played 143 times for the Toffees, disagrees.
Speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet, he said: "I don't think Salah should be dropped. Rested maybe at certain times, yes. But the thing is with him, he's not performing any differently is he? He's just not getting the goals.
"He's not getting the chances. If he starts missing chances, then I can question his form because Salah is for me undoubtedly a match decider. But his performances are pretty much the same.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah during the Reds' defeat to Man Utd
Salah has struggled this season
View 3 Images
ALL OUT FOOTBALL ON YOUTUBE: Subscribe now to be the first to watch the latest episodes of In The Mixer and other original shows, brought to you by Sky Bet. Follow All Out Football on Instagram, TikTok, Facebookand X.**
"He's operating in the same area of the field, he's not asked to do much defensive work because he's so efficient when he gets the ball in the final third in the box. If he's doing that then I've got to look at the team and be like, 'Well, why are we not getting him the ball?'"
Lescott then explained what Liverpool must do to get Salah back firing again. He added: "Similar to [Erling] Haaland. I think there's been times where he's been so efficient in front of the goal, if we just get him the ball in front the goal he'll do his job. I think Liverpool need to get that to that."
Milos Kerkez is another star who has somewhat struggled during the early stages of this season. He cost the Reds roughly £40million from Bournemouth over the summer after emerging last campaign but is yet to live up to the estimations of some.
Milos Kerkez of Liverpool and Bryan Mbeumo of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester United
Kerkez has found life at Anfield hard
View 3 Images
Content Image
Content Image
Lescott thinks that Kerkez will have to get used to the increased limelight after moving to Anfield but he must overcome the added pressure. He continued: "Kerkez had an exceptional season last year but it's a different outfit to have to do that at Liverpool. It's totally different.
"In the greatest respect to him and Bournemouth, he's probably been on TV more this season and scrutinised more than he was the whole of last season.
"So you've got to get used to that, you've gotta know that when you play for teams like Bournemouth, most clubs want you to do well, everyone's ready to praise you, but when you get to Liverpool only Liverpool fans want you to play well.
"There's an expectation and there's people waiting for you to fail in a way. So you have got to get used to the pressure of that and that's what comes with playing in a big club."
You can listen to brand new episodes of In The Mixer on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!