Mohamed Salah has been warned that he needs to find some form before the end of the season to avoid 'a bad break-up'.
The Liverpool legend and four-time Premier League Golden Boot winner has dropped a long way from his usual level this term.
Mohamed Salah playing for Liverpool
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Salah hasn't scored a Premier League goal in nine games for LiverpoolCredit: Getty
Salah is currently on a nine-game scoring drought in the league, which is the longest of his incredible career so far.
His last goal came in November, with his streak beating his previous longest of eight when he was playing for Chelsea.
The Egyptian, who was involved in a clash with manager Arne Slot earlier this season, only has four top-flight goals to his name.
And after netting 29 times and leading the Reds to the Premier League title last campaign, it signifies a huge drop-off.
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That is something that has saddened the panel on the latest episode of talkSPORT's Inside Liverpool show, as they discussed their third all-time top goalscorer's decline in form from his usual standards.
Host Sam Ellard started: "I think it's sad to see, we know he's a legend at Liverpool. But watching Salah struggle week in, week out, it's tough to watch, or am I being a bit harsh?"
Ex-Reds winger Jermaine Pennant replied: "No, not at all...when you watch what he's done for us over nine seasons, it's been nothing but phenomenal.
"And when you see a player all of a sudden have a 29-goal season and then have four three-quarters of the way through...that's a massive drop-off, that is huge.
"It's hard to see and hard to watch, you look at Mo and see what he's done for us over the years, this is not him."
He added: "But, every player at some point in their career will have a slow decline, the goals will start drying up, they won't be as efficient as they once were.
Mohamed Salah playing for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest
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Liverpool fans have witnessed a rapid decline in form from Salah this seasonCredit: Getty
Mohamed Salah stats graphic
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The Egyptian has not posted anywhere near as good stats as he usually does
"There are a lot of things that come into it - each season goes by, each season you get older.
"But on top of that, he's lost his partner in crime in Trent, and there's a lot of team shuffling, different manager, different style, all those things in one is never going to be easy for whoever you are.
Smith then joined in to say: "We've been spoiled by him, haven't we? His numbers have been phenomenal, more than we all expected.
"If he wasn't scoring or on a drought like this, as long as he's getting assists, it would be okay, but he's not getting them either."
Pennant went on to raise the point that his standards are much higher than most, saying: "If he was putting up numbers that Bukayo Saka put over the past five seasons, this wouldn't be a drought..."
To which Ellard commented: "That's true, Salah is in the conversation of being one of the greatest Premier League players of all time. So we are holding him to the highest standards, we've been so lucky."
Mohamed Salah bows his head playing for Liverpool
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Salah is one of Liverpool's greatest players ever and he won't want to leave on a lowCredit: Getty
Don't damage your legacy
Salah's form has caused some extra concern for Liverpool fans due to the fact that his future at the club is more than uncertain.
The 33-year-old has been regularly linked to a move to Saudi Arabia, with rumours escalating after his beef with boss Slot.
It seems to appear that he is not going to be at the Reds for much longer, and ex-boxer and huge fan, Paul Smith, is worried that he won't leave on a positive note that he deserves.
Salah has been criticised for his form, as well as his attitude this season, being spotted smiling after realising he was being substituted against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.
He was also seen laughing with Cody Gakpo on the bench after coming off in that game, something that has led to backlash.
And a concerned Smith said: "He's been one of the best players I've ever seen in a Liverpool shirt, I love him, so I hope he can find a bit of form at the end so there isn't a bad break-up...
Mohamed Salah sitting on Liverpool bench
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Salah's form and attitude have been criticised amid his strugglesCredit: Getty
"There's a few people talking about the way he is on the bench, they're not happy with how he's behaving."
He added: "The great athletes have got to have that arrogance, you've got to back yourself, you've got that ego.
"But when you're laughing on the bench, it's a little bit frustrating."
Salah has 11 more Premier League games to try and find some form, along with knockout fixtures in the Champions League.
Next up for Liverpool, they host struggling West Ham at Anfield, hoping for a crucial three points.
The Reds are sitting three points outside of the top four.
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Should Mo Salah be benched?
Liverpool Champions League winner Djimi Traore joined talkSPORT Breakfast on Thursday and spoke about Salah.
He believes that the amount of games Salah has played is catching up with him.
The 33-year-old has played 795 games for club and country across his career.
This works out at around 47 games per season across his career.
Traore said: “I think he still has some football in him. We all know football is very hard at the moment. You play with more intensity, the team knows you. I think he has played too many games.
“So maybe sometimes you need to rest him and keep him fresh. It's hard to play that high intensity game when you start to get old.
“Mo Salah is a legend for Liverpool. What he's done, I don't think some players can catch him.
“The way he wants to end his career in Liverpool, it's only about him, how he wants to do it.”
When asked about whether football does catch up with you, Traore said: “Yes, of course, you know, football is insane at the moment.
“When you sit with the top players, when you play in a big club and you can play more than 75 games a year or something like that. I think it's crazy.
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“The demand is higher than before. You play every three days when you play in the Champions League, when you play in the league, and if you play for your national team as well.
“It's hard to play at the same intensity all the time. You need to give the chance to some young players.