The latest Liverpool news as the Reds are told they have a new issue on their hands in the absence of Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah during the match between Egypt vs Angola in the African Cup of Nations 2025
Mohamed Salah is currently on duty at the Africa Cup of Nations (Image: MOHAMED TAGELDIN, Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
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Liverpool will aim to maintain their unbeaten streak when they face Fulham on Sunday afternoon. The Reds haven't suffered a league defeat since late November.
However, they were held to a dour 0-0 stalemate with Leeds United at Anfield on New Year's Day. The Reds' display against Daniel Farke's team has been criticised for a lack of creativity, with Arne Slot's side managing just four shots on target.
With the January transfer window now underway, focus has naturally shifted to the market, where Liverpool have been linked with several prominent transfers. However, today's Liverpool news sees one former player urge an out-of-favour Reds star to make his mark under Arne Slot, while another Reds legend has pinpointed a significant Mohamed Salah issue that's emerged for Slot.
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Harvey Elliott urged to make choice
Former Liverpool midfielder David Thompson has encouraged Harvey Elliott to return to Anfield this month. Elliott's loan spell at Aston Villa has been nothing short of disastrous since he made the temporary move on transfer deadline day.
If the 22-year-old were to feature in 10 matches, Villa would trigger a £35 million purchase clause. However, Villa manager Unai Emery revealed in a press conference that Villa decided "months ago" not to sign Elliott on a permanent basis.
Elliott's most recent outing for Villa was a fleeting four-minute cameo against Feyenoord in the Europa League on October 2. Thompson believes Elliott should return in an attempt to compete for his spot at Anfield.
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League match against Feyenoord
Harvey Elliott has endured a difficult spell at Aston Villa(Image: Photo by Lars Baron - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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"I think they should rip up the contract, the agreement with Villa and go back and play," Thompson said on No Tippy Tappy Football.
"Because ultimately he only left because he wanted to prove himself and try and get in the World Cup squad. But it has not worked out so I think he is caught between the devil and deep blue sea as well because he can not play for three clubs in one season. He needs to go back to Liverpool."
Multiple reports suggest that Elliott's loan arrangement includes no recall option, meaning if the midfielder is to make his way back to Anfield this month, the deal would probably need to be cancelled outright, potentially resulting in financial implications for both sides.
Elliott is also barred from joining a different club on loan having already turned out for both the Reds and Villa this campaign. FIFA rules stipulate that players are unable to represent more than two clubs during any single season, which means a league operating on an alternative calendar, such as Major League Soccer, represents Elliott's sole transfer option this month.
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Michael Owen identifies Mo Salah problem
Ex-Liverpool forward Michael Owen has criticised the lack of creativity from Liverpool and believes the club need Mohamed Salah.
Slot's team's tally of 30 goals netted thus far represents their poorest return at this point in the season for a decade, dating back to when Jurgen Klopp was merely a couple of months into his spell as Reds manager.
Salah, who has been the Reds' leading scorer for the past eight seasons, is currently representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Prior to his departure for AFCON, the Egyptian had a disagreement with Slot which resulted in him being benched.
While any discord between manager and player appears to have been resolved for now, Salah's long-term future at Liverpool remains up in the air. Owen believes that without Salah, Liverpool's attack lacks bite, cautioning those who think the forward should be sold, whether in January or the summer.
Mo Salah runs for Liverpool
Liverpool miss Mo Salah, according to former striker Michael Owen(Image: Getty Images)
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Owen said: "Sometimes it's not only tactical – sometimes it's just an attitude thing, an urgency, a desire. I did think late on in the [Leeds] game they weren't playing wide enough.
"Federico Chiesa came on and he didn't really know where he was standing. Cody Gakpo came on but so did Rio Ngumoha, and they were tripping over themselves standing in the same position. Conor Bradley, normally an attacking threat down the right side, I thought that was one of his worst games.
"There was just no creativity. I said to Macca (Steve McManaman) before the game that I like the balance of Liverpool's team, but I don't really see many goalscorers. Normally, you see a Mohamed Salah and a Hugo Ekitike and an Alexander Isak and a Gakpo, and you think there are goals among those."
He added: "Look at that team today and Florian Wirtz is struggling for goals and for performances, and you've got a right wing-back (Jeremie Frimpong) playing in place of Mo Salah at the moment. It just shows you people saying Salah should have been dropped or sold – I mean, that's them without Mo Salah."