Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been described as “pathetic” by Sam Allardyce, following recent claims regarding Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian started back-to-back Reds Premier League games on the bench for the first time on Wednesday, coming on as a substitute at home to Sunderland.
Salah made a difference when he was introduced, but Liverpool could still only draw 1-1 at Anfield, with the pressure once again growing on Arne Slot.
The 33-year-old’s form has been criticised plenty of late, with Carragher arguably not having the greatest relationship with him, following negative comments in the past, too.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast [via The Daily Mail], Allardyce slammed the former Liverpool centre-back’s recent opinions about Salah’s legs going:
“He should really know better. That’s an absolutely pathetic statement, but he’s good at them, isn’t he? He’s good at just throwing it out there for a bit of, you know, ‘popularity’. To keep himself on the front end of it. That’s a disgrace. His legs haven’t gone.
“How can his legs go from what he did last year, having the summer off, and then his legs go this year? How can that happen? It doesn’t happen overnight. How does he know anyway? He doesn’t train with him, he doesn’t watch him train. He sees him play, and he might not be doing so well, but that’s like many of the Liverpool players.”
Is Carragher too harsh on Salah?
As mentioned, Carragher and Salah don’t necessarily seem to be the best of friends, with the latter accusing the former of being “obsessed” with him last season.
While Carragher is an excellent pundit – one of the best in the country currently – he can allow his heart to rule his head with some opinions, and be too strong in his thoughts in the heat of the moment.
I’m starting to think you’re obsessed with me ? https://t.co/YAnwbaHdRi
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) January 6, 2025
That is happening with Salah currently, with the veteran attacker still having plenty to offer as a top-level player, and the negativity towards him doesn’t help matters.
He is playing in a team short on confidence, and is clearly struggling himself, too, but it is too soon to be writing him off, having proven so many detractors wrong in the past.