Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk both started and disappointed as Arne Slot's Liverpool were dumped out of the FA Cup after being hammered 4-0 by Man City on Saturday
Mohamed Salah during Liverpool's FA Cup defeat to Man City
Mohamed Salah was poor during Liverpool's FA Cup defeat to Man City(Image: ( Marc Atkins/Getty Images))
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Liverpool icon Steve Nicol has slammed Mohamed Salah for his performance against Manchester City. The forward endured an afternoon to forget at the Etihad as his side were dumped out of the FA Cup.
Making his last appearance for the Reds against Pep Guardiola’s side, the forward missed two good chances in either half as well as seeing a penalty saved by James Trafford during the 4-0 defeat. A hat-trick from Erling Haaland and a well-taken finish from Antoine Semenyo condemned Arne Slot’s side to another defeat.
Salah will leave Liverpool during the summer after reaching an agreement with the club to end his contract early. And Nicol, speaking on ESPN FC, believes the forward’s decline this season is unprecedented.
He said: “This is unprecedented. How can you go from almost winning the Player of the Year last year to this? To the fact that now you don’t look as though you know where the goal is.”
Reflecting on Salah’s second-half miss, the five-time league winner with the Reds said: “The fact is, he had plenty of time to get it under control and pick his spot. But his touch is so poor.
“Where’s the power? He’s obviously, his whole body shape’s wrong. And even the penalty kick. He doesn’t have his head up. You watch the majority of people take penalty kicks nowadays.
“They’re all watching where the goalie is. But Mo is so concentrated and so unsure that he has to concentrate on the ball and make sure he gets a good strike.
“And so all that other stuff that you would normally do with your head up, because you’re confident, has completely and utterly disappeared.”
Virgil van Dijk was another Liverpool player who endured an afternoon to forget against Guardiola's side as he was guilty of giving away a first-half penalty. And speaking alongside Nicol, former Chelsea defender Craig Burley took aim at Van Dijk, saying: “He’s been poor as well.
Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk following Liverpool's FA Cup defeat to Man City
Liverpool were hammered by Man City(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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“Two guys that were paid a King’s ransom in the summer, two leaders, he’s the captain, two guys that have taken this Liverpool team on their shoulders in different aspects, have been two of the worst performers.
“Obviously, [Ibrahima] Konate has had a very, very bad season, but in terms of leadership, positioning and defending with Van Dijk’s quality, he’s been poor.”
Reflecting on the defeat, Van Dijk said: “Very difficult - very difficult to accept, very difficult to be out there. Very tough day and I feel bad for the fans as well."
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