Mohamed Salah's responsibility in the Liverpool team has been a topic of debate among supporters and pundits, and Arne Slot's instruction to him has been brought up again with the side struggling
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has struggled for form at Liverpool this term(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Liverpool have been told Mohamed Salah's lack of defensive responsibilities may be a factor in the team's struggles this season. The Reds find themselves in eighth place in the Premier League table and have already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
Salah has just five goals to his name so far for Liverpool this term, with four of those coming in the Premier League. The Egyptian found the back of the net 34 times in all competitions to help guide the Reds to winning their 20th top-flight crown.
Arne Slot's side have already lost five matches in the Premier League this season, which is more than the entirety of last term on their way to winning the title. Liverpool are eight points behind leaders Arsenal after their defeat to Manchester City before the international break.
Former Liverpool star Danny Murphy pointed to previous comments made by Salah last season, which may offer one reason behind the team's difficulties this term.
“There's a reason Mo Salah last season, when asked about the difference of playing under Slot he said, ‘He tells me to defend less,’ with a big smile on his face," Murphy said on talkSPORT.
"Which is fine when you're scoring and winning games, but at the moment it's costing them.”
Murphy's verdict was related to comments made by Salah towards the end of last season, where he explained the difference between working for Slot compared to Jurgen Klopp.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has scored just five goals so far this season
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"You can see the numbers," Salah told Sky Sports back in April. "Now I don't have to defend much. The tactics are quite different.
"I said, 'As long as you rest me defensively I will provide offensively', so I am glad that I did. He [Slot] listened a lot and you can see the numbers.
"When you play in the Premier League you have to defend but I said that I can gamble and somehow I can make a difference. My number of assists shows that, you can create chances as well."
Liverpool need to get Salah firing again off the back of their 3-0 defeat to title rivals Manchester City before the international break. When they return, the Reds host Nottingham Forest on November 22 (3pm).
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