Mohamed Salah has endured a difficult season with Liverpool, and one club legend has now told the Egyptian forward that this summer is the time for him to move on
Mohamed Salah looks dejected
Mohamed Salah has had a tough season(Image: Dan Istitene, Getty Images)
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Liverpool legend Graeme Souness believes Mohamed Salah should bring his Anfield career to a close this summer, holding the Egyptian responsible for Liverpool's dip in form. The reigning Premier League champions have endured a turbulent campaign under Arne Slot, having dropped to fifth place.
They could yet round off the season with a top-four finish and two trophies - the FA Cup and the Champions League - but it has been an extremely challenging title defence. Salah has also struggled for goals this term, having found the net just five times in the Premier League.
Reflecting on his performances to Mail Online, Reds great Souness said: "What happens, in my opinion and in my experience, is your career happens one of two ways. When you get to that sort of 33-34 age area, it's either falling off a cliff, or it's a slow decline.
"I think Salah is the former. I went to see the very first game of the season, the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, and I was sitting next to my young son, I said, 'I don't know what's wrong with him?'
"And then I thought, maybe he needs half a dozen games to get up to speed. But he's never improved.
"His numbers tell you that. His numbers are way down, and he is the single biggest reason why Liverpool are having an indifferent season.
Graeme Souness looks on
Graeme Souness has had his say(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA, Getty Images)
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"Because within that group of players, there'll be some that are feeling the pain, some are feeling the negativity that's around the place, and they're not responding very well to it.
"And when you're in that position, you need big players to stand up and be counted. And I think that's been a bit of a shock to Liverpool supporters, the manager and coaching staff, that those guys have not done that."
Souness pressed on with his criticism of Salah, asserting that the Egyptian is the primary cause of the Reds' turbulent campaign. When asked whether the winger should depart this summer, he gave a straightforward reply: "Yes."
Souness added: "His best is behind him now, there's no doubt about that. The first person to know that is yourself, and it happens to everyone.
"I don't see the same sparkle. I think if you're looking for the single biggest reason (for Liverpool's shaky form), it's because he's not been getting the numbers. He's been for six, seven years the Liverpool go-to man.
"He has completely changed games when it wasn't going their way, and he has scored a ridiculous number of goals every season. He's a great - a Liverpool great - but his best season is behind him."
Salah remains contracted to Liverpool until 2027, having only signed a fresh deal with the club in April last year.