25 goals, 14 assists…and 12 more months – What awaits Mohamed Salah? – Liverpool FC

Mo Salah’s season has become increasingly disappointing due to injury following the Africa Cup of Nations, but does that mean the Liverpool legend is now expendable?

When the 2023/24 campaign began, much was made of the attacking wealth at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal, but Salah was still the a gem in the final third.

But as the 31-year-old began his seventh year as a Liverpool player, his most inauspicious season yet at Anfield took place.

Strong numbers, but choppy results

For the first time in his Liverpool career, Salah did not score in the Premier League season opener, equalizing away to Chelsea.

However, Luis Diaz had an inch-perfect assist, which underlined his underrated passing ability and ruthless end product.

But we’ve rarely seen Salah at his absolute best during the 2023/24 season, even if we sometimes expect too much from him.

There were big moments, not least the derby double at home to Everton and the superb strike against Arsenal at Anfield, but they were sporadic.

It was hard to shake the idea that away from goals and assists – obviously a vital aspect of the game – Salah was below par.

His versatile performances were choppy and more forgettable than before. Along with loose touches and inconsistent decision-making, his diminished mobility has made him a fading force.

Salah managed just 0.96 dribbles per 90 in the league, down from a lofty 2.45 in his first season at Liverpool, which is telling.

There are potential excuses for his struggles, however, with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s changed role often leaving Liverpool’s No.11 too isolated on the right.

The new group of midfielders has not been easy to build relationships with on the pitch, and the unpredictable nature of fellow strikers Diaz and Darwin Nunez makes it difficult to bond.

In the end, Salah scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions, with Nunez, 31, closest to his tally of 38 – more than three of his previous six seasons.

That speaks volumes for the levels we expect from him, so any over-the-top criticism of his performances is harsh.

By the time his 250th league appearance arrived at Wolves, Salah had scored 155 goals in the competition – only Thierry Henry (175) has more under one manager.

He also broke into the Premier League’s top 10 all-time goalscorers, leapfrogging Michael Owen, Les Ferdinand, Teddy Sheringham and Robin van Persie, and closing in on Jermain Defoe and Robbie Fowler.

When you look at the numbers, this has been a season many strikers would have been delighted with, but by Salah’s standards, the rest of us wanted more.

Never the same after AFCON

Two years ago, when Liverpool were chasing an unprecedented top four, the way Salah went down after AFCON duty was noticeable.

There were clear comparisons to be drawn again this time, even though there were mostly injury problems along the way.

A notoriously rugged footballer who misses few games, Liverpool have largely had to do without Salah for two months due to a hamstring rupture – the worst injury of his career.

Apart from one lively cameo at Brentford – a goal and an assist from the bench, of course – he didn’t play between early January and early March, and he didn’t play on his return either.

His ability to beat a man has left him, his confidence has disappeared and most importantly, the goals have dried up.

Frustrations also got the better of him, and his touchline clash with Klopp was an awkward moment.

Salah’s only goal from open play in his last 11 appearances of the season came at home to Tottenham, with games passing him by far too often.

With Salah’s contract set to expire in 2025 and some concerned about his recent form, Liverpool’s legendary Egyptian finds himself in the rare position of being in doubt.

How will Slot use Salah?

For the past seven seasons, Salah has been an indispensable figure for Liverpool, with few strikers in world football at his level.

However, there are question marks over his long-term role, not helped by his late-season form.

Salah keeps himself in incredible physical condition, but time waits for no footballer and it’s hard to ignore that he turns 32 this summer and will be 33 when his current contract expires.

He is now a different player than the one who once led the defense, and one of the biggest challenges for Arne Slott will be how to use him.

Although he is still quick, that electrifying pace has left him and there may have to be talks of him playing centrally, turning him into more of a poacher.

However, Liverpool cannot afford to be in a position where they trade Salah to such an extent that it affects the system.

He has proven the doubters wrong in the past and would simply need a rest before coming back fresh in August, but that is not a given.

It seems as though Salah intends to stay, judging by his recent social media activity, but could Michael Edwards turn heads with a monster bid from Saudi Arabia?

While this is the most expendable thing Salah has felt, his retention is still preferable, with few others capable of scoring and assisting at such a rate.

If he stays, a contract extension should be agreed soon – as losing him on a free transfer next summer would be careless.

It feels like we’re approaching years past Salah’s prime, but that doesn’t mean he can’t continue to be a huge asset and break new records.

Best moment: Ruthless goal scored at home to Arsenal.

Worst moment: Discussion with Klopp at West Ham.

Role next season: Key starter.